He made history last year when he became the first student at the Durban University of Technology’s Jewellery Design Programme to score 100% for his portfolio.

Yesterday (Monday February 4, 2013), he yet again made history after becoming part of the Emma Smith Scholarship Award’s 82 year old legacy. Songezo Baleni, who hails from a rural village in Umzimkhulu, KZN south coast, was announced as the 2012 Emma Smith Scholarship Award winner at a ceremony held at the DUT City Campus – walking away with a R40 000 cash prize.

“The judging panel looks at four things (when evaluating the contestants’ work),” said DUT Arts and Design Faculty Deputy Dean Professor Graham Stewart who was also the chairman of the judging panel. “The first is the good presentation of the work, second being how the candidate (orally) put forward the idea, third is the impact the artist’s work will have on society and last being the impact (of the prize) on the individual,” said Prof Stewart.

As part of the evaluating process, the judges also asked the contestants where they see themselves in the next five years. “The most inspirational answer came from Songezo. The originality of his designs, the sense he had of his South African heritage – which shows through the designs and are themselves the best of local and global – are what made him tonight’s winner,” said Prof Stewart, who however stressed that all nominees are winners. “The judges faced an extraordinarily difficult decision; all candidates did well,” he said.

Baleni completed his BTech degree in Jewellery Design last year where he performed exceptionally well. He is currently lecturing Computer-aided Design (CAD) and Setting on a part time basis to second-year Jewellery Design students.

The 27 year applies traditional weaving techniques using precious metals in creating and manufacturing his designs, a skill he says he developed using his heritage. He describes his style as high-end commercial but distinctive, saying he draws his inspiration from his passion to create as well as his heritage. His work is also on show in Johannesburg art galleries.

“The competition was tough; I didn’t think I’d win. I developed something using my heritage which has become a distinctive piece of jewellery,” said Baleni. Creating his unique pieces using his signature weaving technique is however not easy. “Precious metal isn’t like grass which is soft. It (precious metal) gives you blisters (on your fingers) during the weaving process so you often have to take breaks in-between. For example, it took a month to weave the necklace,” he said pointing to the centerpiece of his exhibition.

Chris de Beer, Associate Director in the Jewellery Design Programme said Baleni did not work towards winning the Emma Smith Scholarship, but won because he is constantly learning. De Beer said Baleni spends the majority of his time, including Saturdays on campus. “When he comes across new things he just dives in, he’s eager to learn. With talented people like Songezo, you don’t feel like you’re teaching them something, all you do is give them space to do it, that’s what I feel I’m doing as his lecturer,” said de Beer.

Professor Nomthandazo Gwele, the DUT DVC Academic congratulated Baleni, saying his parents deserve gratitude for raising “such a talented young man”. “This (Baleni) is the one we must never lose as a nation. We must create space for him to grow. I congratulate him,” said Prof Gwele.

– Sinegugu Ndlovu

Pictured: Songezo Baleni, the 2012 Emma Smith Scholarship Award winner shows DUT DVC Academic Professor Nomthandazo Gwele one of his jewellery pieces. Baleni, 27, won R40 000.