George Pemba began drawing as a child, with the encouragement of his father. Despite the apartheid regime, he managed to complete his high school studies and his paintings began to win numerous awards and prizes. Pemba’s painting style reflects his descriptive way of portraying the world, although some looser brushwork betrays impressionist influences. During his career he also wrote and staged two plays, The Story of Nongqawuse and The Xhosa Prophet Ntsikana, which he illustrated with his paintings.
