Zimbabwe Artists Project

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")