The Soul of the Wood: The Journey of Michael Teffo Born in the Pretoria township of Lady Selborne, Michael Madimetja Teffo’s artistic journey is one defined by an innate connection to the natural world and a profound, self-taught mastery of form. His story began not in the halls of formal academies, but in the quiet landscapes of his youth, where he spent his childhood sculpting Marula wood with nothing more than a simple pen knife. This early intimacy with organic materials laid the foundation for a career characterized by a deep respect for the medium. Without formal institutional training…