Siyabonga Fani was born in Gugulethu, Cape Town, and is steadily becoming a force in the ceramic scene in South Africa.
Studying art and design at Suvuyile College, (now College of Cape Town Gugulethu Campus), solidified his ceramic trajectory and went on to work at The Potters Shop in Kalk bay, where he developed his ceramic painting skills.
Siyabonga soon found it necessary to learn the strategic side of his craft and went on to study Business Management, this led to the opening of Siyabonga Ceramics in 2013 under the guidence of mentors, Andrew and Carol Bouwer.
Fani's vessels embody traditional techniques such as coiling, pinching, burnishing and smoke firing, after which are polished with shoe polish to reveal their signature dark patina. Made in collaboration with his brother, the works reflect inspiration drawn from their surroundings, nature and rivers, from where their father comes from in Cofimvaba. Rarely having an initial plan, Siyabonga encourages whatever comes instinctually when decorating the vessels.
In 2014 Fani went to New York in search of new business opportunites, and cultivated valuable relationshps at galleries and the embassy. In the same year Fani received the opportunity to design the plaques for the Siyabonga Awards, an inaugural event expressing the nation’s gratitude to its partners and friends in the US, including expatriates who promote trade and investment for South Africa’s economy.
Through Siyabonga Ceramics, Fani has set out to prove that it can be a sustainable business that provides both employment and travel opportunities for others.
