I See Gods in Artists

There’s something sacred about watching an artist at work. Whether it’s a guitarist pouring their soul into a melody, a dancer telling a story through movement, or a painter capturing the essence of an entire generation on canvas, I can’t help but feel I’m witnessing something divine. Over the years, through the streets of Vosloorus, on festival stages, and inside dimly lit rehearsal spaces, I’ve come to a simple but powerful truth: artists are gods among us.

Art is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Like food feeds the body, art nourishes the soul. From the beginning of time, humans have turned to creativity not just to express themselves but to survive. Long before language was formalized or religion institutionalized, we were carving symbols, humming rhythms, and dancing around fires. These weren’t just activities, they were lifelines. Art was, and still is, how we remember, how we connect, how we heal. It’s embedded in our DNA.

As someone who has spent years working in radio, curating events, engineering sound for live bands, and promoting emerging talent, I’ve been blessed with a front-row seat to the creative spirit. These experiences have changed how I see the world. They’ve taught me that without art, there is no life. The microphone may amplify the voice, but it is the emotion behind the voice that touches souls. The stage may light up, but it’s the artistry that shines. Every rehearsal, every jam session, every backstage moment has revealed to me how deeply art is woven into our existence.

When we speak of art, we are speaking of something beyond beauty. We’re speaking of a tool that unlocks hidden emotions, bridges cultural divides, and holds the power to transform pain into purpose. As a society, we too often overlook the fact that art is a basic human need. It comforts the grieving, gives voice to the voiceless, and turns silence into song. Whether it’s a poem that touches a heart or a protest mural that wakes up a city, art moves us in ways that facts and figures never could.

In African traditions, artists have always held a sacred role. They were the griots, the storytellers, the spiritual messengers. Their work wasn’t just to entertain but to preserve the culture, call down the ancestors, and carry community memory. That spiritual thread still exists today. A singer calling down healing through a gospel chorus. A sculptor shaping visions from ancestral dreams. These are not simply acts of talent—they are divine acts of creation.

But even as we celebrate the power of art, we must confront the reality that artists carry heavy burdens. The truth is, many creators struggle to survive in a world that consumes their work without respecting the labour behind it. They face censorship, economic instability, and exploitation. Artists are often first to speak out against injustice, yet last to be protected by the systems they challenge. Despite this, they keep creating—driven not by money, but by spirit.

Still, the impact of art in real life cannot be denied. It enhances learning, strengthens mental health, and fuels activism. Art builds economies through fashion, music, and design. It preserves indigenous knowledge and helps children grasp complex concepts through song, imagery, and drama. I’ve seen communities transformed through a single arts program. I’ve seen school dropouts discover new purpose through writing and performance. That is the power we’re talking about.

So what do we do with this knowledge? We start by valuing our artists, not just when they’re famous or gone, but while they’re still among us, crafting the soul of our nation one verse, one beat, one brushstroke at a time. We support local talent, fund creative spaces, and teach our children that to be an artist is to be a builder of culture and a vessel of spirit.

Let us honour the artist as the divine channel they are. Because when an artist creates, they are not just making a song or a painting, they are revealing a piece of the universe. In their hands, we see beauty, truth, memory, and vision.

Yes, I’ve seen gods. They walk among us. And they answer to the name artist.