- South African artist Bhungane Mehlomakulu of @bhumehldiaries launched a punch-needle embroidery series reimagining the Powerpuff Girls
- The artist shared the colourful, large-scale works on Heritage Day, with each piece taking up to 40 hours of needlework to complete
- South Africans praised the series online, with fans calling for global recognition and asking which tribe would be featured next
Source: Instagram
A South African artist is giving one of the world's most beloved cartoon trios a Mzansi makeover, and the internet cannot get enough.
Bhungane Mehlomakulu, the creative behind @bhumehldiaries, shared the vibrant work on 24 September 2026, Heritage Day, posting an outdoor rooftop showcase of large-scale punch-needle embroidery pieces. The artworks reimagine the Powerpuff Girls as in richly patterned traditional clothing — each one representing a different South African culture.
The series, which Bhungane has named "Bantu Powerpuff Girls," is designed to honour indigenous Bantu languages, their traditional attire, history and cultural significance. In the caption, the artist set out an ambitious goal: to create a piece for every Bantu language spoken in South Africa, including South African Sign Language.
Heritage stitched in every thread
What makes the project even more remarkable is the craft behind it. Each artwork is produced through punch-needle embroidery, a labour-intensive technique that sees Bhungane spend between 20 and 40 hours on a single piece. The resulting works are bold, textured and unmistakably handmade — qualities that give the series a warmth no digital illustration could replicate.
The post asked followers a simple but exciting question: which tribe should come next?
View the Instagram video below:
Mzansi falls in love with the series
South Africans flooded the comments section on his page with excitement and pride:
@nersh42_ wrote:
"Xhosa people we are loved guys ❤❤❤"
@muholizanele said:
"Excellent"
@doves2010 commented:
"You deserve global recognition 😍"
@only_ellemae shared:
"Exactly 🙌🏾🤞🏼❤💯 So incredibly cool. Wowies."
@fabisummer added:
"I need the whole collection 😍"
Bhungane is accepting commissions directly through Instagram for anyone who wants to own a piece of the series.
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- Western Cape artist Welmé Booys has impressed South Africans with a detailed one-hand portrait of Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus, drawn using just one hand.
- BigMan KG surprised street artist Hendrix with R10,000, then took him to a Limpopo game drive and ancient Northern Sotho rock art sites in the Waterberg region.
Source: Briefly News
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