Zimbabwe Artists Project

These are wild animals found in Zimbabwe—bucks and buffalo.  We can see them and others in the game parks.This description was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting. (9″x9″)

Every year, baboons used to have their festival on a big muzhanje tree (Uapaca kirkiana).  They are celebrating their festival with big, sweet mazhanje fruits.This description was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting. (9″x9″)                              

Two women are pounding maize while their children are sleeping near the kitchen hut.  Father is playing the guitar and his son is dancing.This description was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting. (9″x9″)

Tamuka and Chipo are having their traditional wedding.  Chipo has covered her head with a white cloth.  Tamuka is sitting next to her.  People are very happy.  They are singing and dancing to the beat of ngoma (drums) and hosho (shakers).  They are all happy.This description was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting. (9″x9″)

The villagers are busy catching ants on the anthill during night.  Mr. Mutasa is pushing a wheelbarrow full of buckets of water, going home.  He is passing near the anthill and Mrs. Mutasa said, “Stop, let’s catch ants.”  John is busy chasing chickens from the dara (drying rack).  Chickens are looking for water and food.This story was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting. (9″x9″)

At Mrs. Ndoro’s home people are harvesting some pumpkins.  The cart is collecting some pumpkins.  Chiedza is in the cart.  Some are carrying pumpkins using baskets.  The oxen are pulling the cart full of pumpkins.This story was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting. (9″x9″)

People are busy picking wild fruits.  Mother is trying to carry a basketful of wild fruits.  John is carrying a sack full of fruits.This description was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting. (9″x9″)

Four children are playing fish-fish (jump rope) and three others are at a seesaw.  Four other children are at a swing.This description was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting. (9″x9″)

It is now the rainy season and a group of Mbuya village members are picking mushrooms for them to eat.  They are picking two types of mushroom – nhedzi and tsvuke-tsvuke.This description was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting. (9″x9″)

Baboons are having a Christmas party in the field of Mr. Mutasa and his family.  He is not around.  They are beating drums and singing.This description was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting. (9″x9″)

People are coming in and out of the store.  Matongo Bus Service is passing through the road.  Other people are also passing through the road.  A woman is coming from fetching firewood.  Two women are coming from the grinding mill.  Women are knitting (plaiting) their heads.This story was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting. (9″x9″)

Two women are selling tomatoes and the other woman is doing a client’s hair.  The people are at the market selling and buying vegetables and fruits.  A woman is selling clothes and a man is selling baskets.  Two women are molding clay pots for selling.This story was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting. (9″x9″)

Mother and father are picking mushrooms.  Their daughter is carrying mushrooms.  Father and son are starting to cook the sadza (thick porridge).This story was handwritten by the artist.  The original is glued to the back of the painting.  (13″ x 13″)

In the village, people are doing different activities.  Mrs. Moyo is brewing beer.  Some are at the borehole.  Children are playing games.  Some are playing pada (hopscotch), and boys are playing soccer.  Some are getting in the bus that is passing through their village going to Harare.  The goats are running in front of the bus.This story was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting.  (13″ x 13″)

These are wild animals found in Zimbabwe, e.g. giraffes, bucks and elephants.  We can also find wild fruits in the bush.This description was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting.  (13″ x 13″)

Two boys are picking fruits.  Mother is carrying firewood.  Mother is carrying a sack full of groceries, going to the bus stop.  People are wating for the bus at the bus stop.  Mother is selling fruits on the table to the passengers.  A car is carrying baskets full of tomatoes.This story was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting.  (13″ x 13″)

People are at the concert where a local musician is singing.  The singer is Tongai Moyo.  People are dancing to the good sounds produced by this man and his band.  People are drinking beer while they are dancing.This story was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting.  (13″x13″)

The villagers are busy catching flying ants.  Some catch flying ants to sell at Chiendambuya growth point to get money for paying school fees.Mother is carrying a sack full of mealie meal (cornmeal).  John is playing with a ball made from plastic bags tied together.  Mother is sweeping the yard.  Two girls are playing nhodo (jacks).  Mother is carrying firewood.This story was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting.  (13″x13″)

Mr. Mutasa is coming from the beer hall.  John is running to his father.  Mr. Mutasa kicked the plate of vegetable relish.  He didn’t like some vegetables.Three women are fetching water from the borehole.Mrs. Mutasa went to an old woman looking for medicine (to cure her husband of abuse).  Now Mrs. Mutasa is preparing some breakfast and Mr. Mutasa is sitting near the fire.  Mr. Mutasa is bathing his face (with the “medicine” in the water). Mrs. Mutasa is busy instructing him.Now Mr. and Mrs. Mutasa are busy pounding maize.  Mr. Mutasa is carrying a dish of mealie rice (coarsely pounded maize).  Now Mr. Mutasa is helping Mrs. Mutasa wash clothes while she is busy playing with the baby.This story was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting.  (13″x13″)

Mr. Mugadza and his family are busy putting maize in the maize stock.  Mother is putting maize cobs in the dish.  Mother is sweeping the yard.  Two women are pounding.  Mother is carrying firewood.  Mother is carrying a sack of mealie meal (cornmeal).This description was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting.  (13″x13″)

The villagers are busy dancing, drinking traditional beer, singing, playing shakers and beating drums.  Others are fetching water from the borehole.  Chickens are busy looking for food.This description was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting.  (13″x13″)

People are at Mr. O. G. Mugadza’s home.  They are celebrating Wilson’s birthday.  Now boys and girls are waiting for Wilson to share the cake and Wilson is lifting a big knife.  Others are enjoying themselves with beer.  Women are helping themselves to sadza (thick porridge) and pork meat.  Two women are sharing the sadza with the people.This description was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting.  (13″x13″)

Three women are brewing beer and another one is carrying a clay pot of water.  Two men are helping themselves to seven-days beer.  Two women are pounding maize for the meal.  Another two women are shucking maize while a son is sleeping.  Three children are cleaning their father’s car.  They have a tin of water.This description was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting.

Two women are pounding mealie rice (coarsely pounded maize).  Mother is washing clothes because on Sunday she likes to go to church.  Mother is sweeping the yard.  People are fetching water from the borehole.  Mr. Mutasa is making a hoe stick, a yoke and a duri (mortar).  Mother is carrying firewood with a baby on her back.  Two women are pounding mealie rice for selling in the village.  Mrs. Mugadza is busy fetching water from the well.This description was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting.  (13″x13″)

A boy is going to Nyawi Store looking to buy sugar.  People are gathered at Weya Rural Hospital.  They have some illnesses for cure.  Father and his son are joining the queue for treatment.  Mwazozo bus is coming from Chiendambuya going to Mukute.Two women are coming from the village carrying bags of maize, going to the grinding mill.  A mother is breast-feeding her baby while a man and his wife are resting, eating some buns from Muranga shop.  Two men are helping themselves to chibuku beer(a commercially made version of traditional opaque beer).This description was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting.  (13″x13″)

In Rusape area of Tsanzaguru, there was a man called Daniel.  He was a gambler.  One day he went to an herbalist to look for some herbs to win the gambling game.  When he was given the herbs by the herbalist, he was given some instructions that he mustn’t bathe with hot or warm water.  He went for his gambling and he won the game.  He was so excited when he took his money going home that he forgot his commandments.  His wife gave him a dish of warm bath water, and he disappeared.  When Daniel’s wife saw that her husband was not returning from the bathing room, she followed him.  She only found a dish and his clothes on the walls of the bathing room made of grass.  She went to a traditional healer and was told that he didn’t follow the instructions he was told by the herbalist when he got some herbs for gambling.  Daniel’s wife was told to go back home and brew beer.  When she finished brewing beer, she called the n’anga (traditional healer) and they went to the dam (reservoir) nearby. People were singing and dancing while Daniel’s family and the n’anga were spraying mushonga (traditional medicine) on the dam.  The traditional healer told Daniel’s family, “The animal you see in this dam is your husband.”  After some time they saw a hippo and they were told that was Daniel.  They were told to bring him sadza (thick porridge) every day.This story was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting.  (13″x13″)

    A man and his son are going for selling maize to the Grain Marketing Board.  A man and his wife are going for visiting.  Two women are coming from fetching water from the borehole.  Young children are playing handball.  Two women are coming from the grinding mill.    A woman is washing plates.  Another woman is playing with her baby.  A man and his wife are going for cutting firewood.This description was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting. (13″x13″)

Tapadzwa, Itai, Rudo, Tendai and Tadiwa are in the munhondo (Julbernardia globiflora) tree.  They are collecting harati.  These are special caterpillars for relish.  Ambuya (grandmother) Chiendambuya is carrying a basket full of harati.  She is gong back to her home.This story was handwritten by the artist.  The original is glued to the back of the painting.

In this game park, there are animals like this leopard up the tree, the giraffe, the buffalo, and the rhino.  The birds are moving on the rhino.  The great white herons are moving on the ground.  The red birds are in the park.This story was handwritten by the artist.  The original is glued to the back of the painting. (13″x13″)

At Runyange, the Grain Marketing Board lorry is coming to sell maize to the Runyange area.  Mr. Chari and his family are going for a visit.  Young boys are playing football.  Mrs. Mwashita is winnowing maize.This story was handwritten by the artist.  The original is attached to the back of the painting. (13″x13″)

(Musukutwa Bikita was the champion traditional dance group in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Artists Project brough them to Weya for a community celebration. The “man taking pictures” is ZAP’s representative in Zimbabwe, John V.)
There is a day we can’t forget, all people in Weya.  That day there were two traditional dancing groups, Musukutwa Bikita and Nyanhute. We were pleased to watch this. I, for my life, never witnessed this before. It was a memorable day. Musukutwa Bikita was excellent in dancing and hosho (rattles) played on legs. There is a man taking pictures. This story was handwritten by the artist. The original is attached to the back of the painting.

1. Old Grandfather is teaching Rutendo how to make a wire toy car and Chipo is sitting beside them watching what Rutendo is doing.
2. Grandmother is telling Rutendo and Chipo some stories.
3. Rutendo is now playing with his wire toy car.
4. Chipo and Rutendo are playing with a ball.
5. Father is plowing the field and the oxen are pulling the plough.
6. Mother is carrying Rudo on her back. She has wrapped her with a towel and is putting some maize seeds in the field.

This story was handwritten by the artist. The original is attached to the back of the painting

There are a buffalo (nyati), elephant (nzou), lion (shumba), leopard (mbada) and rhinoceros (chipembere).

This description was handwritten by the artist. The original is attached to the back of the painting.

At Runyange township people are busy. A woman, with her son, is going for a visit with a bag on her head. Mr. Munetsi is reading a book. Mr. Mungure is going to fetch fertilizer with scotch-cart pulled by oxen. An open [truck] is going to Rusape transporting people. Mr. Mwashita is going home after fetching firewood with his wife.

This story was handwritten by the artist. The original is attached to the back of the painting.

There are a leopard, a rhino, a lion, a buffalo and an elephant.

This description was handwritten by the artist. The original is attached to the back of the painting.

The man is putting his shoes on. The woman is taking her nice dress from the wardrobe. She is looking at a looking glass. They are playing with the baby on the bed. They are watching television. The children are preparing to go to school. They are having breakfast.

This description was handwritten by the artist. The original is attached to the back of the painting.

In Chiendambuya village there are many types of soap trees. The two women are going to collect their soap from the tree. Rosa is climbing up the tree. This type of tree is called mucherekesi (Swartzia madagascariensis). Tsitsi, Tarisai and Chihwiza are up the tree collecting soap fruits. Tandai is crushing the soap fruits to wash the clothes. She is washing the clothes in the Nyagadzi River. Rosa is warming the clothes on the line. There are some cows resting under the soap tree.

This description was handwritten by the artist. The original is attached to the back of the painting.

Two small kudus are busy running, and at the side there are two zebras and small cheetahs. There is a big lion which is beside the tree. Four big kudus are looking at the grass.

This description was handwritten by the artist. The original is attached to the back of the painting.

Nzou – elephant Mbizi – giraffe Mbada – leopard Haka – pangolin
Nguruve – pig Furiramudenga – giraffe Mhembwe – buck
Diro – baboon Shumba – lion

This description was handwritten by the artist. The original is attached to the back of the painting.

These are some wild animals in the game park. There are some elephants, giraffes and hares.

This description was handwritten by the artist. The original is attached to the back of the painting.

The two women are preparing some mealie-meal (cornmeal). The other one is grinding maize on a hard, flat stone for mealie-meal, and the fourth one is pouring mealie-meal into a bowl from a drum.
While the two women are busy doing their work, the two girls Chipo and Rudo went to look for some fruits in the forest.
They pick some fruits from the tree and sit down. They see a female baboon carrying her baby on her back coming towards them. They run back home.

This story was handwritten by the artist. The original can be found attached to the back of the painting.

1. Ruwinbo is pounding some maize in a mortar.
2. Tsitsi is taking the pounded maize from the mortar and putting it in a bowl. Then she can grind it to mealie-meal (cornmeal) on a hard, flat stone.
3. Mrs. Mubdzi and Mrs. Hwai are going home. They are carrying firewood for making fire.
4. Rudo is washing some plates and putting them on a table made from wood.
5. Two women are washing cloths and another two women are carrying buckets of water for drinking, cooking and washing clothes. They are going home.

This story was handwritten by the artist. The original can be found attached to the back of the painting.