At just nine years old, the young South African artist is showcasing his work at an international exhibition in Alkmaar, marking another milestone in a creative journey that began with his first solo exhibition in Johannesburg.

Shaka Madida is already building a creative journey that extends beyond borders. The young South African artist is taking his work to the Netherlands, where his art features in Connecting the World Through Art, an international exhibition bringing together artists, students and communities from diverse cultural backgrounds in Alkmaar.

Hosted at the historic Kapelkerk, the exhibition celebrates art as a universal language — one capable of bridging cultures, connecting generations and creating space for different perspectives. For Shaka, whose artistic interests have already found an audience at home, the opportunity marks an exciting next step in sharing his creativity with the world.

His journey into the art world began with a milestone that was anything but ordinary. In November 2025, Shaka celebrated his ninth birthday with his first solo art exhibition at Magugu House in Johannesburg. Instead of a conventional birthday party, he chose to mark the occasion by putting his artwork on display, turning a personal celebration into an opportunity to share his creative vision with others. The evening also saw him make his first art sale, an encouraging achievement for a young artist at the beginning of his journey.

With the support of his parents, media personality Nandi Madida and Grammy Award-winning musician and producer Zakes Bantwini, Shaka has been able to explore his artistic interests and develop his own relationship with creative expression. While his parents are established figures in South Africa’s entertainment industry, Shaka’s emerging journey is one of his own — shaped by his curiosity, imagination and willingness to share his work.

His participation in Connecting the World Through Art now places his creativity within an international setting, offering an opportunity for his work to be encountered by audiences beyond South Africa.

The exhibition brings together local and international creative voices in a shared space designed to encourage artistic discovery and cultural exchange. Its programme includes opportunities to meet participating artists, a live printmaking workshop led by artist and designer Isi de Jongh, as well as live music and DJ performances. The programme reflects the exhibition’s wider ambition to make art accessible, interactive and relevant to different communities.

The initiative is organised by students from Hogeschool Inholland Alkmaar in partnership with art marketing agency Novus Arte, with the involvement of Hochschule Mittweida in Germany and the Universidad de Zaragoza School of Arts in Spain. Through this international collaboration, the exhibition creates a platform for creative exchange, bringing together different approaches to art and demonstrating how cultural expression can connect people across geographical boundaries.

For Shaka, being part of such a platform at this stage of his life is a significant opportunity to experience the possibilities of the wider art world. It also offers a reminder that creativity can be nurtured from an early age, and that young people deserve opportunities to share their ideas, develop their talents and engage with audiences beyond their immediate surroundings.

His progression from a first solo exhibition in Johannesburg to an international showcase in the Netherlands is particularly encouraging for young creatives in South Africa. It demonstrates how an early interest, when given room to grow, can open doors to new experiences and creative communities.

Beyond the milestone, Shaka’s story speaks to the importance of recognising young people as creative individuals in their own right. Art allows children to explore their identities, communicate their perspectives and make sense of the world around them. Providing opportunities for young artists to exhibit their work can help build confidence, encourage experimentation and create meaningful connections with people from different backgrounds.

At nine, Shaka’s artistic journey is only beginning. His appearance at Connecting the World Through Art is not simply a moment of international recognition, but an opportunity to continue exploring what is possible when imagination is given a platform.

From his first solo exhibition in Johannesburg to the historic surroundings of Alkmaar’s Kapelkerk, Shaka Madida is taking his creativity beyond familiar borders — one artwork, one opportunity and one new audience at a time.

EXHIBITION DETAILS

Exhibition: Connecting the World Through Art

Venue: Kapelkerk, Laat 80, entrance via Kapelsteeg 3, 1811 ER Alkmaar, The Netherlands

Dates and times:

• Thursday, 29 October 2026 | 18:00–22:00
• Friday, 30 October 2026 | 17:00–21:00
• Saturday, 31 October 2026 | 12:00–16:00