Bhengu, Gerard (1910 – 1990)
Gerard Bhengu was born on 6 September 1910 in Outstation of Mariannhill Mission Station, Centecow,
Bulwer district, Southern Natal. Bhengu received his early education at the Roman Catholic Mission School of
Esibomvwini at Centecow, in the Creighton region of Natal. From 1926 – 31 Bhengu produced 150 drawings for
Dr Max Kohler as documentation of rural tribal life in Centecow. Kohler used some of these drawings to illustrate
his ethnographic and medical publications. In 1932 and 1933 the artist lived in Ixopo, Mariannhill where he
was commissioned by Bishop Fleischer to paint a number of pictures with religious themes. From 1934 to 1937
he attended Edendale Training College under the sponsorship of Dr D. M. Malcolm, Chief Inspector of Native
Education in Natal and Mr S. R. Dent, Inspector of Native Education. He was taught by Reverend Nixon.
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