(Lwazi “King Zorro” Xaba)
Durban visual artist Lwazi “King Zorro” Xaba passed away in
July, 2016. The following is a tribute from Neil Comfort, co-owner of the
Rainbow Jazz Restaurant in Pinetown.
"Most
ingeniously, he would find his way through any security or clause against
non-professional photographers. His charm and King Zorro unruliness kept him secure
and unbarred as most of us (arts enthusiasts) witnessed."
“I found these lines in the press release issued by the BAT
Centre this morning, penned by Xolani Sithole, resonated quite loudly with me.
When he took up photography, it did not take King Zorro very long to make sure
that the doormen at The Rainbow knew him and that whenever he could make it to
The Rainbow, he would be welcomed through the doors. Having secured his
"photographers credentials" at the Rainbow, it of course did not take
him and his confidence long to start trying to hit us up for sales of the
photographs that he then started taking at the Rainbow. Most often the answer
was that there was no budget but he would keep on pressing and sometimes I
would buy a few prints from him even though by allowing him unfettered and free
access, he ended up having a product to sell. At least all of those
"negotiations" were discussed with a smile on the face of both
participants. I will miss those negotiations and that King Zorro smile. I will
forever not understand why he died though?” – Neil Comfort
In July 2011, King
Zorro held a photographic exhibition at the Durban Art Gallery titled Inqola Noseyili. The 30 piece
exhibition represented King Zorro’s latest work, and in using the “invisible”
trolley boys, set a scale against which society could measure its own troubles.
For an interview written by Latoya Newman in 2013 for Tonight, visit http://www.iol.co.za/tonight/news/local/in-the-picture-at-national-festival-1533509
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