John Baloyi

John Mehwana Mehlwana Baloyi was a South African artist renowned for his wood carvings, a protégé of the famous wood sculptor Jackson Hlungwani (1923 - 2010). Beginning his artistic journey at the age of nine in 1973, Baloyi’s talent extended beyond wood carving, to pottery, mat weaving, and puppet making. His sculptures, deeply rooted in Tsonga tradition, depicted historical events and cultural narratives. After having worked in the mines and having operated a delivery business, Baloyi decided to focus full time on his career as an artist and teacher. On the 28th of May 2004, Baloyi realised his dream of over a decade to open his gallery, the Mashamba Art Gallery and Museum in Elim, rural Limpopo.

Justice Albie Sachs was awarded a chance to speak at the opening of Baloyi’s gallery in 2005. In his address, he urged the government to support artists. At this event, Albie Sachs saw and acquired Godzilla for donation to the Constitutional Court Trust. This all had come about after Sachs saw another of Baloyi’s sculptures Saluting Ghost which had previously been donated to form part of the CCAC.