Veronica was born in 1959. She came to Weya in 1982 as the second wife of her husband. She has three children, ages nine to nineteen. Veronica learned to do art in 1988. She felt it was a thing she could do as a woman, and she needed money. “I am a full-time housewife who looks after children, fetches firewood, does plowing, herds cattle and takes them to the dipping tank. I have quite a lot of work.” She has time for her artwork during the rainy season only on weekends, with more time available during the dry season. Her favorite topics are wild animals (“baboons who live here in this place”) and village life.

Veronica’s Work

COMMUNITY MEETING AT THE BOREHOLE (fabric painting): 71″ x 87″

Mrs. Mungure, the village health worker, is announcing a meeting to the villagers for sweeping the borehole (deep tube well) as well as repairing it.

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This story was handwritten by the artist and is tucked into a pocket at the back of the painting.

Tima was born in 1971. She completed her “O Levels” – equivalent of 10th grade – in 1989 and then learned sadza painting. She was married in 1991 and moved away, returning to Weya in 1997 after her husband died. She has remarried and has three children.

Tima decided to learn to paint because “I realized that it gives money easily if you work hard. The more you do, the more you make. You can paint anytime.” Her favorite topics are folk stories, work done by women, and enjoying life.

Tima’s Work

Life of a Widow

Sadza Painting

Rhoda was born in Harare in 1960. She went to school through Grade 7, stopping then because her mother had died and her father, whose work as a driver kept him on the move, was not able to find her a place in Form 1. She married in 1979 and has four children. A sister of hers died, leaving two children whom she takes care of, as well.

Rhoda moved to Weya when she was married. She took up art in 1991. “I saw that it kept me very busy and I learned something.” Her favorite topics include true love and village life. She currently lives with her family in Harare, where her husband works as a chef.

Rhoda’s Work

The Fields

Appliqué

Promise was born in 1966. He was raised in Gweru and was sent to school for Coloureds (people of mixed race) because his surname seemed like a Coloured name to the Rhodesian authorities. Special Rhodesian subsidies for the education of Coloureds ended with Zimbabwean independence and Promise had to drop out of school because his parents couldn’t afford the higher fees. He was out of work or did manual jobs – the last one as security guard – until he met and married Melania Mazinyani in 1998 and learned to paint from her. His favorite topics are traditional dance, wild animals, and monuments of the past.

Promise’s Work

A FAMILY AT HOME:  (sadza painting, 96cm x 66cm)

Ambuya (Grandmother) is grinding on a stone while she is watching over the baby. Temba is walking while their mother, Amai Kuda, is drying the clothes. Chipo is washing the dishes while their elder sister is bringing water.

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This story was handwritten by the artist.  The original is tucked into a pocket at the back of the painting.

Nerissa was born in 1963. She is married to the Headman of Mugadza village who is a builder. They have 6 children. She learned to do appliqué from Ilse Noy in 1987 at the Weya Community Training Centre. The proceeds of her art pay for school fees for her children and other family needs. “It lessens my problems.”

Nerissa’s Work

Wedding Day

Appliqué

Grace was born in 1962, the fifth-born of eight children. (Two of Grace’s brothers, David and Richard, are also artists.) She attended school through Grade 7, stopping because “for girls, our parents just wanted us to read and write.” She was married in 1981 and divorced in 1984. She learned to paint in 1991 at the Weya Community Training Centre because “I had another child and had to work to support him.” She lived in various places, often painting furniture, until settling again with three of her children in Weya in 2002. Grace’s favorite art topics include folk tales, day-to-day life, and animals and birds.  

Grace’s Work

Ajasi was born in Marondera in 1972, the third of ten children. He stopped school after 8th grade. “

I was excellent at school, but money was a problem.” He enjoyed doing art in school, but was taught to be a painter by his wife, Auxillia, who was trained at Weya. He painted pottery between 1998 and 2000 at Ros Burn Pottery in Ruwa before returning to Weya. Ajasi was married in 1992. He and his wife have three children. They live in Chakwenya village. Favorite topics for his art include village life, his family, and baboons and other animals.

Ajasi’s Work

    Fruit Pickers in Muzhanje Tree            Traditional Healer Gaura        

Board painting                                Board painting

Acrylic on Wood                             Acrylic on Wood

14″x14″                                           14″x14″

Beauty was born in 1969. She has three children, ages 9 – 12. She learned to paint in 1988. “I paint because it helps me with house costs: soap, school fees for children, and other household expenses. I got married with a man who wasn’t formally trained (as a builder) and who isn’t regularly employed. I need to help the family.” “I want Americans to know that I am a woman who works hard. I would like to see what women in other countries do – are they hardworking like me? I am proud that my children go to school properly dressed and they have enough to eat because of my hard work.” Her favorite subjects include village life and weddings.  

Beauty’s Work