Master sculptor and potter Ms Noria Mabasa, who has been described as one of South Africa’s living treasures, has been practising and perfecting her artistic craft as a sculptor since 1974. Due to the circumstances in that era, her creative work remained hidden and unknown to the outside world. Only in 1985, during the ground-breaking BMW Tributaries Exhibition in Johannesburg, through which she later toured West Germany, the doors to the world finally opened for her.

At the time, exhibition curator Mr Ricky Burnett broke all the rules by looking at South African art in its entirety and the centre of this exhibition was a set of extraordinary sculptures by the virtually unknown Mabasa. Since then, she has become a household name and has produced hundreds of sculptures and pieces of pottery.

Mabasa’s creations are inspired by dreams, through which she says her ancestors speak to her. Over the years, she has amassed several national and international awards and accolades. Among them was a Silver Order of the Baobab award bestowed on her in 2002. She also shares her knowledge and skills with the youth selflessly.

No one was surprised when the University of Johannesburg recently awarded an honorary doctorate to her. The degree was conferred on her during the university’s graduation ceremony, held on Wednesday, 19 April this year.

About this honour, the new doctor said she was overwhelmed with humility. “I am a rural woman faced with many odds, but I managed to overcome them. I am not educated, but my ancestors equipped me with skills to fend for myself. I have been to many parts of the world, exhibiting my work, and the response has been phenomenal. This can only be the grace of God that picked me from nowhere and placed me into the world’s limelight. I am 85 years old, and it is hard for a person my age to stand up and carve wood,” she said.

Mabasa said the honour had revived and boosted her spirit to work even harder at producing more sculptures. “I am so motivated that I have started working on new projects. I will continue to follow my calling until God says it’s enough.”

She thanked the University of Johannesburg for this extraordinary honour.

Mabasa currently resides at Tshino village in the Vuwani area, where she runs an art school. She teaches her students the art of making clay pots and sculptures.