Alex Msibi is the 2016 winner of the Thami Mnyle Mentorship Prize. Msibi’s solo project, Nkululeko – Freedom is an extension of the artwork, Dessicated In State Of Tranquility that he won the Thami Mnyele Painting Prize with. What appears to be in contrast with the title, his imagery mostly deals with concepts of suffocation, pain, survival or death. His paintings mostly capture suffocating figures inside plastic bags. The artist metaphorically portrays the angst and fear of dying or entrapment in an abusive relationship.