Family by Joseph Ndandarika – 1st Generation Shona Sculpture

Family by Joseph Ndandarika is a representation of a family; it is a bridge between the physical and the metaphysical. Sculpted by the late Joseph Ndandarika—a man Frank McEwen once called a “universal genius”—this work reflects the deep spiritual apprenticeship Joseph served under his grandfather, a renowned n’anga.

Symbolism and Form

Ndandarika was a master of the human figure, using stone to give weight to the invisible ties of ancestry and kinship. In this piece, observe the:

• Enlarged Heads: Representing the home of the spirit and the seat of ancestral wisdom.

• Enveloping Arms: A signature of his work, these limbs do not just hold; they protect and share the weight of human experience.

• Definitive Expressions: Carved with a skill that captures the “gamut of human experience,” from the humor found in daily life to the “searing grief” of loss.