Jonathan Sebigi

Jonathan Sebigi - Candles by Jonathan

Born in Johannesburg in 2003, and raised by his grandparents in Dobsonville, Soweto Extension 3, Jonathan is accustomed to the constant hum of the city. Over the past five years, Jonathan has been making and selling candles in and around the city center. He collects old candles, and recycled wax from past customers.

Jonathan learned to make candles as a child from his childhood friend and neighbour, Mpilo. Mpilo passed but Jonathan continues to make candles in the same way. He says he thinks of her daily and is often lighting candles in her memory. He melts the wax over a fire and using the inner cardboard cylinder from toilet rolls as a mold, he pours the wax around a fresh wick. Jonathan fits his candles in an ice-cream container and sells door-to-door.
This is how we met. A young man with a bucket hat and two ice-cream containers.

Jonathan says, the township is a difficult environment. As a young gay man, he is often the target of homophobic rhetoric and physical violence from his peers. School presents much the same issue. Academic stress is compounded by pressure to provide rent and food money for his family. Because of this Jonathan works hard in the city and stays indoors when at home, feeling safe only when he leaves Dobsonville and comes into the diasporic heart of Johannesburg.

Jonathan speaks five languages and makes his away around Johannesburg with remarkable grace. His goal is to have his own candle shop where he has the creative license and the resources to expand his craft.

If one were standing in the street one could see through the morning’s reflection on the glass into a studio come sale space, Jonathan is busy inside, making candles. All around him are the tools he needs, the molds, wicks, and bottled scents. The morning is warm, the rent is paid, and his stomach is full of pizza. This is the future Jonathan dreams for himself.

Shop Jonathan's collection now.