Women of UKZN: A Little Colour, A Lot of Heart

What better way to celebrate women than with a little colour, creativity and conversation?

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) recently celebrated its women through a vibrant Sip and Paint experience, bringing staff together to relax, connect, create and reflect on what it means to be a woman in the University community.

For two days, UKZN traded some of its usual academic and office seriousness for paintbrushes, laughter and a little creative chaos – proving that sometimes, even a university needs to put down the paperwork and pick up a paintbrush.

The celebration began on 27 August at Denison Hall on the Pietermaritzburg Campus, where close to 150 staff members gathered. On 28 August, the colour and energy moved to the Westville Sports Centre, where more than 400 staff members joined the celebration.

And while nobody was expected to graduate with a Fine Arts degree by the end of the day, there was certainly plenty of creativity on display.

The events offered staff an opportunity to step away from meetings, deadlines and the familiar rhythm of university life, and simply enjoy one another’s company. With paintbrushes in hand, participants explored colour and creativity while sharing conversations about womanhood, resilience, leadership, dreams and the importance of supporting one another.

When the women of UKZN picked up their paintbrushes, the result was more than colourful canvases – it was a celebration of dreams, resilience, leadership and the power of taking up space.

While the paintbrushes may have been colourful, the reflections were even more so.

In keeping with UKZN’s commitment to fostering an inclusive, connected and people-centred university community, we asked some of the women to share their thoughts on womanhood, life, resilience, dreams and the things that matter most.

Their responses offer a glimpse into the women behind the work – their wisdom, humour, hopes and experiences – and remind us that celebrating women is also about creating spaces where they feel seen, valued and connected.

‘Go for it, my darling. Fly.’

For Delisile Precious Magudulela, celebrating women must include creating spaces where they receive emotional and mental support.

She reflected on the importance of reminding women of their value – sometimes through something as simple, yet powerful, as telling them that they are beautiful.

Her advice to her younger self was even more powerful:

“Go for it, my darling. Fly. Don’t be afraid to take up space.”

It is a message that could easily be printed on a campus wall – preferably somewhere people actually stop long enough to read it.

For Magudulela, taking up space is not about simply occupying a chair. It is about recognising one’s worth and refusing to shrink when opportunities arise.

Her painting carried a similarly hopeful message. She described it as representing ubumnyama (darkness), capturing the idea that as the darkness deepens, dawn draws closer.

In other words, sometimes the canvas looks darkest just before the masterpiece begins.

‘We need to give women positions of power’

For Thandiwe Zama, the conversation moved from personal dreams to a much bigger question: who gets to lead?

Zama emphasised the importance of giving women positions of power, pointing to the continued need for stronger representation of women in spaces of influence and decision-making in South Africa.

Celebrating women, therefore, cannot stop at saying “well done”. It must also ask: Where are the opportunities? Who is making the decisions? And who is being given a seat at the table?

Her message to her younger self was brief but filled with hope:

“The future gets brighter.”

Her painting provided another insight into her personality through the colours she chose – white and pink. Zama described herself as a dreamer, with pink representing clouds and sunsets, elements that reflect something of who she is.

The sunset also carried a spiritual meaning for her, reminding her of God’s creativity and the talent reflected in the natural world.

Perhaps fittingly, her canvas reflected one of the celebration’s central themes: dreams do not always arrive fully formed. Sometimes, like paintings, they begin with a blank space and the courage to put the first colour down.

More Than Paint on a Canvas

Across Pietermaritzburg and Westville, the Sip and Paint celebrations became more than social gatherings. They became spaces for connection, reflection and appreciation.

In a university environment often dominated by deadlines, meetings, research, teaching and administration, the opportunity to simply sit together, laugh and create something offered its own kind of learning.

And perhaps that is the clever thing about art: it has a way of starting conversations without first asking for a PowerPoint presentation.

The strong turnout – close to 150 staff members in Pietermaritzburg and more than 400 in Westville – demonstrated the appetite for spaces where women can feel recognised, supported and celebrated.

Reflecting on the importance of the event, one UKZN staff member, who preferred to remain anonymous, said:

“Moments like the Sip and Paint event are incredibly important because they remind us that, beyond our roles, responsibilities and daily deadlines, we are people who need connection, appreciation and a sense of belonging. It was refreshing to step away from the usual routine, laugh, be creative and simply enjoy being together. Events like these make women feel seen and valued, and they create opportunities for us to connect with one another in a more personal and meaningful way. Sometimes, feeling appreciated does not require a grand gesture – simply creating a space where people can pause, connect and know that they matter can make a real difference.”

It also reflected the importance of building a university community in which people feel a sense of belonging and connection – a people-centered approach that supports UKZN’s broader strategic commitment to nurturing its people and strengthening an inclusive institutional culture.

The experiences shared by the women across the two events also served as a reminder that there is no single definition of womanhood. There are stories of struggle and triumph; leadership and uncertainty; dreams and reinvention.

What connects them is the courage to keep going.

The canvases may eventually find their places on office walls and bedroom shelves, but the messages behind them are much harder to frame.

After all, there is enough room on the canvas.

And judging by the colour, creativity and energy on display at UKZN, its women are more than ready to paint something extraordinary.