Shona Ferguson passed away on 30 July 2021—just three months after celebrating his 47th birthday. Following a valiant battle against the coronavirus, the Kings of Joburg, Rockville and The Queen actor/film producer left behind a wife and two daughters, Lesedi and Alicia. But great men never really die. They remain immortal through the legacy.
Seeing Shona Ferguson painting
Connie, the widow of Shona Ferguson, was more than just his wife. She was and is his soul mate and business partner. Their 19 year old marriage is a story ripped out of the pages of a fairytale. Therefore Shona’s passing would have touched her deeply. So much that when Johannesburg based artist, Thomas Mwasangwale, illustrated her husband, Shona, on canvas, she wept.
Describing Connie’s reaction, the 40 year old Mwasangwale said;
“She cried she was emotional and later smiled with the mixed reactions that I saw from her I knew that it’s a Yes from her. She did mention why the painting touched her it’s because I captured his Essence and spirit and she felt it, So yah, I almost cried too because I felt her pain like big time.”
Why Shona is special
The multi-talented artist has painted or drawn several other universally known celebrities in ink, charcoal and paint, from Nelson Mandela, Robert Mugabe, Kobe Bryant, Oliver Mtukudzi, Mary Twala, Chadwick Boseman, Johnny Clegg, Menzi Ngubane to the sometimes infamous artist, Rasta. But the Shona Ferguson painting holds a special place in his heart, as detailed in this exclusive interview with QuickRead Magazine.
“It was special because I painted it with a passionate feeling as I did it during his memorial by painting him I got a chance you know him although ive never met him and having done so unknowingly I met her on Saturday to give her the consolation painting.
She didn’t know of the meeting which was set up by one of her close work associates, Conrad Mwanza. I’m a big fan and a follower of both Connie and Shona Ferguson ever since I was young. The painting was a gift, with no intention of making money whatsoever, a consolation gift.”
Shona Ferguson lives on
They were – they are – Mzansi’s foremost power couple, they have been photographed countless times and Connie probably has innumerable photographs of her husband. But, as any scholar of the arts will attest, a portrait conveys and evokes emotion on a different level.
Mwasangwale is a devoted father of two sons and two beautiful girls; Munopa, Zinhle, Lesego and Leandra . Although physically no longer with us, Shona Ferguson, a father of two daughters himself, will watch over his family from up high, immortalised on canvas.
My pen is capped
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Image copyrights Thomas Mwasangwale
