History Of Shona Sculpture In Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe Tower

In about 1250, stone structures began to be constructed at Great Zimbabwe, comprising drystone walls forming enclosures, platforms to support huts and a massive enclosure containing a conical tower. Great Zimbabwe was the capital of the rulers of a society that drew its wealth from both cattle-keeping and trading with the coastal states of East Africa.

Soapstone bird carvings were found on walls and monoliths of the ancient city of ‘Great Zimbabwe’.

Although these soapstone birds were discovered at ‘Great Zimbabwe’ approximately 760 years ago, stone carving appeared to have perished with the great kingdom of Monomutapa i.e. it was not a tradition that was continued and prospered or found in other ruins/peoples homes from this era.

Nonetheless, the stone-carved Zimbabwe Bird is a national emblem of Zimbabwe, appearing on the national flag and when they were in use, the Zimbabwean Dollar.

It is said to represent the Bateleur eagle…

The ‘Shona’

There are 2 main tribes in Zimbabwe – the Shona & the Ndeble.  The population in Zimbabwe is 12.5 million – however 13 million people speak Shona dialects.

Many sulptors’ families originate from various other neighbouring countries – originally seeking work in Zimbabwe in more prosperous times.  Many of the sculptors’ names originate from Mozambique and Malawi, which can be depicted by their family name i.e. Akuda, Sephani, Supini, Vissensio.

ZimSculpt prefer not to pigeonhole the entire art form as ‘Shona’ and rather as ‘Zimbabwean Stone Sculpture’, as it is in Zimbabwe where the art form has flourished – perhaps because of the accessibility to the raw materials.

African European Influence

During the early 1900s, the aesthetics of traditional African sculpture became a powerful influence among European artists who formed an avant-garde in the development of modern art.  In France, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and their School of Paris friends blended the highly stylized treatment of the human figure in African sculptures with painting styles derived… Read more

Totems & Traditions

One of the earliest known Zimbabwe Traditions is the use of Totems and these are often depicted in the sculptures you see throughout the country. These Totems also know as mitupos were used by the MaShona to identify the different clans that made up the ancient civilizations of the dynasties. The symbols are usually associated… Read more

The National Gallery & Frank McEwen

In the 1950s Southern Rhodesia – as Zimbabwe was then called under the apartheid regime of Ian Smith, the capital Salisbury (now Harare) was under pressure to educate themselves in European ways and saw the establishment of a University and a National Gallery. The Gallery enrolled their first Director from  the UK, Frank McEwen. With… Read more

Joram Mariga (late)

The career of Joram Mariga is inextricably linked with the beginning of Zimbabwean stone sculpture movement. Born of artistic parents in 1927, Mariga used to watch his father and brother carve wood, and his mother make open-fired ceramics. Experimenting with wood carving at first, he moved onto soft stones such as Steatite, but later discovered colourful,… Read more

Vukutu Gallery

McEwen’s role as spiritual ‘leader’ and, to some extent, ‘protector’ of the movement continued to the end of his Directorship in 1973. Soon after the initial interest from international collectors and organisations, McEwen sought a new venue for his Workshop School. Fearful of commercial pressures on the young work, he enlisted the help of sculptor,… Read more

Tengenenge

Tom Blomfield was the founder and director of Tengenenge about the same time Vukutu Gallery was inaugurated in the early 60’s – from 1966 to end 2007. Tom owned a farm and cultivated Tobacco. When the sanctions were introduced because of the Civil Independence War in Zimbabwe, it was impossible for anyone to make business.… Read more

Dominic Benhura’s Studio

Dominic Benhura’s Studio is next door to his actual home in a leafy middle class suburb of Harare called Greendale. He has approximately 10 other independent sculptors working with him at The Studio. To name but a few whose work we carry; Celestino Mukhavi, Eddie Masaya, Stanford Derere, and Raphael Machinjili. Dominic also has a… Read more

Chapungu

Founded by Roy Guthrie, as African Art Promotions Inc. in 1970, Chapungu Sculpture Park has pioneered the promotion of Zimbabwe Stone Sculpture (Shona Sculpture).  From its humble beginnings as a small gallery in the capital city , Harare, to the 20 acre sculpture park in the outskirts of Harare. Since 1970, Chapungu has been tireless… Read more