Zimbabwe

AfricanColours Artist Association (AAA) 4 Deary Avenue, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe. Phone + 263 4252 962 / aaa@africancolours.com

untitled - by Fanizani Akuda

 

Recently the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Harare hosted a sculpture show by Friends Forever titled “Kupembera Matombo – Celebrating Stone – Master Sculptors of Zimbabwe”. “Friends Forever” is a group of Zimbabwean artists and their friends who want to promote the beautiful Zimbabwean art. Since July 2004, Friends Forever have arranged and carried out close to 50 exhibitions of Zimbabwean stone sculptures world wide, connecting the artists in Zimbabwe and people from many countries; it has been new and pleasant often exciting experience for the visitors to the exhibitions; and the artists have benefited since so many people have bought the sculptures, because the fell in love with them. The have therefore been able to sustain a life, where they can pursue their artistic skills and give birth to new creations for their veins of inspiration, which was clearly documented in the exhibition.

 


Friends Forever have from the beginning enjoyed the support of some of the most prominent master sculptors of the first generation, who are still active. It has meant a lot to the whole movement that the older artists, who enjoy the respect of all the younger artists from the second and third generations, have decided to the outset to support the idea of joining forces in order to create new opportunities for all the artists. Their trust in the idea have paved way for the initiative. Some of the first generation sculptors who have contributed a lot and are still practicing include fanizani Akuda, Eward Chiwawa, Sylvester Mubayi, Enos Gunja and Ephraim Chaurika.

by Stephen Garan'anga