The 2026 Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) Nyoloha scholarships have been awarded to two young Limpopo artists, Lethabo July Boshomane and Nhlawuleke Asher Shileng. Each recipient will receive a R300,000 scholarship to pursue their artistic dreams. Boshomane, a 23-year-old digital artist from Sekgakgapeng near Mokopane, won the visual and digital arts scholarship. Shileng, a 19-year-old aspiring opera singer from Ngove near Giyani, won the performing arts scholarship. The winners were announced at the MTN Innovation Centre in Johannesburg on October 31.
Boshomane plans to use her scholarship to study game design and production, and then complete her honours. She has been passionate about art and storytelling since childhood, but initially considered pursuing medicine due to her good maths and science marks. However, with the support of her mother, Linah, she decided to pursue her passion for digital art. Boshomane has built her skills through freelancing, volunteering, and online training, using open-source software. Her first exhibition, at the Polokwane Art Museum for the scholarship finals, told the story of Mmathabo, a woman outgrowing a marriage to a violent, domineering husband.
Shileng's introduction to opera came through a school choir competition in 2024. A teacher handed the choir an Italian song, which he found easy to sing. He then discovered the opera solo category and decided to sing solo opera in 2025. The young baritone spent six months learning Largo al factotum, using ChatGPT to help with Italian pronunciation. He filmed himself on his phone to improve his performances, practising his acting and dancing too. Despite some people laughing at him, Shileng continued to dream big and now wants to build an opera house in Giyani.
The two winners emerged from 60 young artists who underwent four months of mentorship and training, with 11 reaching the finals. The scholarship program aims to support young artists in developing their skills and pursuing their passions. Boshomane and Shileng's wins are a testament to the program's success in identifying and nurturing talented artists. Their stories demonstrate the impact that the scholarship can have on young artists' lives and careers.
Boshomane's mother played a significant role in encouraging her to pursue her passion for digital art. She bought her first laptop and her older sister supplied a drawing tablet. Boshomane's family support has been crucial in her artistic journey. Shileng, on the other hand, has been driven by his own determination and resourcefulness. He used ChatGPT to help with Italian pronunciation and filmed himself to improve his performances.
Shileng's ambition is to study music at Nelson Mandela University, despite never having had formal music lessons and still needing to learn to read music. The university's coastal location also appeals to him, as he has always been fascinated by the ocean. On a primary school church trip to Gqeberha, he saw the ocean for the first time and had a profound experience. He now wants to experience life near the ocean and feel the ocean breeze.
The scholarship has given Boshomane and Shileng the opportunity to turn their grand designs into qualifications. They join a community of artists who are working to make a positive impact through their work. As Boshomane said, "South Africa needs artists who express the narrative of black kids and black women." With their scholarships, Boshomane and Shileng can now pursue their dreams and contribute to the country's vibrant arts scene.
Key points
- The 2026 Arts & Culture Trust Nyoloha scholarships were awarded to Lethabo July Boshomane and Nhlawuleke Asher Shileng.
- Boshomane will study game design and production, while Shileng will pursue music at Nelson Mandela University.
- The scholarship program aims to support young artists in developing their skills and pursuing their passions.
