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.
Recognising the talent of local farm workers with their hands, tools and relatively easy access to stone, he started a small Workshop on the farm.
Today Tengenenge is one of the most recognised establishments in Zimbabwean Sculpture.
It is a typical African village in the North of Zimbabwe (about 4 hours outside Harare) at the foot of the Great Dyke. The difference with other villages is the occupation of the inhabitants: they all make a living from sculpting.
The village is an open-air gallery. There are more than 11,000 sculptures on display and currently over 80 sculptors each having their stand space representing their works. The sculptors families live at Tengenenge.
Some families, like the Manzi family consist of 3 generations of sculptors.People from all over the world visit Tengenenge to buy and also to learn to sculpt or improve their techniques. It is currently owned by Dominic Benhura, one of the most famous Zimbabwean Sculptors.
