LOVE LETTERS 4RM EKHAYA
MZIYANDA
Photography
Originally Published: 19 December 2025
Mziyanda's photographic vision is one that presents a warm and nostalgic documentation of everyday life across different South African settings. Within their images, Mziyanda captures candid human moments, vibrant street scenes and beautiful landscapes — all with a sense of intimacy and authenticity characteristic of film.
"Within my work you’ll find that there is a strong focus on community, place, and atmosphere — from urban streets and seaside views to spiritual gatherings and playful scenes. My intentful use of just film is due to the natural lights and color which film quality has. It’s something I grew up with and find as such a timeless quality within my work, while my framing of people and objects within my work suggests a thoughtful, observational eye. Overall, my body of work conveys a deep appreciation for ordinary beauty, cultural rhythm, and the quiet poetry found in daily life."
The Creative
MZIYANDA
Mziyanda (b. 1997) is a South African photographer whose work captures the subtle, synchronistic moments that reveal the depth of everyday life. Influenced by a childhood spent between contrasting worlds of wealth and poverty, Mziyanda explores themes of social disparity through an "outside-looking-in" perspective that often challenges the viewer’s assumptions about privilege and struggle. Their emotive, film-based photography is inspired by South African artists like Santu Mofokeng, David Goldblatt, and Zanele Muholi, drawing on a nostalgic connection to family albums and the enduring power of the captured image. Mziyanda’s work serves as a visual love letter to Blackness, celebrating contemporary South African cultures and connecting the Black diaspora through shared aesthetics and narratives.