Bongiwe Mba

Bongiwe Mba was a member of the Bambanani Women’s Group in Cape Town, where she used Body Mapping to express her experience of living with HIV/AIDS. Her artwork reflects both resilience and survival, symbolised through personal elements such as her Bible, a Protea flower representing South Africa, and the transformation of her body through antiretroviral treatment. She also confronted deeply traumatic experiences, including the loss of her mother to HIV-related illness and a violent rape, which left lasting physical and emotional scars. Despite this, her Body Map shows her recovery and strength after starting ARVs, as she regained weight, health, and a sense of independence. Her story ultimately reflects healing, survival, and determination to build a stable life for herself.