Thomas Kubayi

Biography

Thomas was born on the 13th October 1972, at Tshivhuyuni village, Venda. He is from the traditional Tsonga tribe.

In 1983, in Standard 1 (11years old), his art began to develop. It was at this stage that he also became involved in traditional dance.

His father was a wood carver and his mother painted and decorated garden walls. Thus he came from an artistic and creative background. His father taught him how to hold and use the traditional chisel, called the “mbatlu”. This chisel was also used by his late grandfather, and Thomas taught himself, without any assistance, to carve wooden cooking spoons.

In 1985, while still at school, he created much art, including stone carvings, walking sticks, tablemats and animals from clay, and his work was quite superior.

Between 1990 and 1991, Thomas started carving much larger sculptures. He produced fish and crocodile works, and at that time met Mr. John Baloyi, who was using some of his tools. Baloyi gave him great encouragement. At this stage they were only carving recreationally and not for selling and profit making.
In 1994 he met the sculptor Jackson Hlungwani and this is when he began to sell his sculptures and to work even harder. Jackson gave Thomas even more encouragement and he would spend most of his time at Mbokota, carving with Jackson.

From 1995 to 1997 he attended the College in Giyani, where he received a diploma/certificate in Carpentry, Building, Drawing and Building Science. He also continued to produce and sell sculptures while at college. When his course was completed, he returned to work and joined up with John Baloyi again, where he worked until Baloyi’s untimely death in 2006.