Zimbabwe Artists Project

Caroline was born in 1959 in Tanda.   She attended school through Grade 7, after which the school was closed during the liberation struggle.  She came to Weya with her husband in 1989 so that he could take over the shop in Runyange village that his father had run until he died.  They have four children. [...]

Christine was born in 1968 in Murewa.  She went to school through 8th grade, stopping because of family finances.  She was married in 1987 and moved to Weya where her husband is a teacher at Mukute Primary School.  She has 3 children. Christine began doing art in 1999 “because I want to help myself get [...]

Brenda was born in Weya in 1990, the second of three children.   Her mother is artist Beauty Mugadza.  Brenda is currently a student at Rongwe Secondary School.  She began to do art in 2006 because “I want to help my mother pay school fees.”  Among her favorite topics are village life, work done at home, [...]

Benonia was born in Chiendambuya in 1970, the first born of five children.  She attended school through 10th grade but her parents didn’t have enough money to send her further.  She worked as a sales representative in Harare, the capital city, for three years before marrying in 1992.  She has one daughter, Gamuchirai, born in [...]

Idah was born in 1961.  She has four children, born between 1982 and 1994.  Her husband died in 1994.  Her primary work is farming and her main crop is maize. Idah learned sadza painting in 1998.  My husband was in jail for a long time (5 years) and I didn’t have anyone but myself to [...]

Pamhidzai was born in Murhewa in 1972, one of seven children.  She attended 10th grade, but only intermittently because the family didn’t have enough money.  She worked at a supermarket in the Dzivarasekwa suburb of Harare from 1997 until 2001.  She was married in 1999 and moved to Weya in 2002.  She has two children, [...]

Roselyn was born in 1975 in Rusape.  She finished the equivalent of 10th grade, but she is currently studying in order to complete her secondary education.  She has also completed a dressmaking and design certificate course.  Roselyn worked as a bookkeeper and receptionist in Harare for three years before marrying Dickson Mungure in 1997.  She [...]

Chipo was born in 1964.  She grew up in Weya, in Mugadza village.  She studied through Grade 7, but her family was too poor for her to continue further.  She has a son, born in 1990, and she is divorced from her husband. Chipo began making appliqués in 1999, because her family did not have [...]

Shelton was born in Epworth, outside of Harare, in 1982, one of seven children.  He went through the equivalent of 9th grade, stopping because the family had no money to pay school fees.  He came to Weya in 2000 because life was difficult in the city.  He stays with his aunt and helps her with [...]

Absolute was born in 1977 in Chihota, the first born of four daughters.  She finished the equivalent of 10th grade and then did a dressmaking cutting and design course.  She did sewing work for 5 years.  She was married in 2004 but was divorced  “because my mother-in-law didn’t like me.”  She moved to Weya in [...]