THE Germany embassy in Harare in partnership with the National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo last week unveiled the German Buddy Bear to showcase the Ndebele culture globally. The Buddy Bear, also known as “Utshomi” (a Ndebele native name for “Buddy”) a project done by Portia Ndlovu, Khumbulani Ncube, Khathazile Mlala and Lackina Zulu…
Farewell Sekuru Shumba Nyamuzihwa Sylvester Mubayi
One of Zimbabwe’s finest artists who belonged to the famous First Generation sculptors, Sylvester Mubayi died on the 13th of December 2022. Confirming the death, National Gallery of Zimbabwe Director Raphael Chikukwa, who also worked with the sculptor as Curator at the Venice Biennale in 2017, expressed shock at the death of the artist. “It…
AVAC Arts opens gallery at the Victoria Falls International Airport
By Kundai Marunya – Herald Arts Correspondent Renowned online gallery Avac Arts has moved to expand their operations, thus opening their first physical gallery space at Victoria Falls Airport. This is in line with the organisation’s 2023 vision to increase their visibility and foster development in the sector. The space, set up towards the end…
Appeal for financial assistance towards the establishment of the Victoria Falls International Airport Sculpture Park
INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND AVAC Arts is an arts sector focused community development initiative (social enterprise) that was founded by Terrence Tawanda Musiyiwa during the year 2002. The entity was eventually registered in 2003. AVAC Arts was a necessity created after realising the opportunities and challenges faced by Chitungwiza stone sculptors. Our operations are aligned to…
Black Friday – Cyber Monday Year End Sale!!!
Black Friday – Cyber Monday Year End Sale is back again. This time we are offering a 30% discount on the listed price which includes the cost of packing and freight. Hurry whilst the promotion lasts and add some beautiful and authentic Zimbabwean art to your collection. Please visit our online store to see what…
Edward Chiwawa passes away; Shona sculpture loses a sekuru
It is with great sadness that we have to announce that senior artist Edward Chiwawa passed away last night. There are only a handful of sculptors left in Zimbabwe who are part of that first group to achieve international recognition, the so-called ‘first generation’ of Shona sculptors. That select group has lost one of its…
Zimbabwean female artists tell stories through sculpting
Firmly grasping a hammer and chisel, Simelokuhle Zibengwa, a stone sculptor, effortlessly pounded on a small chunk of rock. White-ish fragments fell off as she carefully hammered through the stone. After a while, and with a great deal of effort, a figure of a rabbit could be seen taking shape. Zibengwa’s works of art are not…
Winky D lands two AFRIMA nominations
Zimbabwean dancehall legend Winky D is up for two awards in the 2022 African Music Awards (AFRIMA). He was nominated for his song Happy Again in the Best Artist, Duo or Group in African Reggae, Ragga, Dancehall and Best Male Artist in Southern Africa category. Nutty O is also in the later category for his iconic single Handipere…
Avac Arts nominated for the LUXlife Global Excellence Awards 2022
Shortlisting has recently begun for the sixth annual Global Excellence Awards, proudly hosted by LUXlife magazine, and we are delighted to be informed that Avac Arts has been identified as a nominee this year. The Global Excellence Awards 2022 are dedicated to recognising the best products, services, and brands across the world who are leading the luxury elite in…
Name your price feature back again!
Due to popular demand we have reintroduced the “Name Your Price” special feature for all artworks being sold online. It is a very simple and easy to use function that allows negotiation between the buyers and artists with regards to the artwork buying price. As a potential client, if you find any artwork(s) of interest…
Call for Entries: 2023 National Arts Merit Awards categories out
By Ano Shumba for Music-in-Africa.net The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) is inviting local artists, production houses, studios, stables, galleries, organisations, associations, groups, and all other stakeholders in the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) to submit entries ahead of the 21st edition of the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMAs) in February 2023. The NAMAs are a product of…
Dominic Benhura Day
By Paidashe Mandivengerei UNITED STATES city of Carmel, Indiana proclaimed May 14 as Dominic Benhura day after the internationally acclaimed Zimbabwean sculptor. The proclamation is in honour of the value that Benhura’s art has added to the city’s economic development and diversity. This came after Carmel commissioned Benhura’s sculpture ‘Swing Me Higher, Mama’ made from…
Art centres play pivotal role in nurturing talent
By Kundai Marunya (Arts Correspondent) The process of transferring one’s imagination into something visual and tangible is often challenging that only a few very creative individuals dare to take it on. It takes years of practice, learning from the masters and formulating one’s own distinct style before they finally earn the right to showcase their…
Stone sculptor enthusiast puts nation on the map
By Robert Mukondiwa Victoria Falls-based arts connoisseur and founder and director of Zimbabwe’s leading online sculpture gallery Avac Arts, Terrence Musiyiwa, has scored another first and put the nation on the map as he emphasises the need for both vocational skills and educational prowess. He recently shone after Avac Arts was featured as a leading…
Alms to Word on Fire and Zimbabwe
Dear Brandon Vogt and Bishop Barron, Thank you Brandon and Bishop, if I may be informal, and your colleagues and staff, for bringing me closer to Christ and Catholicism through Word on Fire. Also, the Bible is accessible to me for the first time through the Word on Fire Gospels with its commentary and…
Zimbabwean poet and filmmaker Zibusiso Mpofu has won the 2022 Brunel International African Poetry award
Zimbabwean poet and filmmaker Zibusiso Mpofu has won the title of Brunel International African Poetry 2022 Award. Mpofu was announced as the winner among finalists which included Conor Kogil from South Africa, Asmaa Jama and Edil Hassan from Somalia, Fahad Al-Amoudi from Ethiopia and Adedayo Agarau and Chisom Okafor from Nigeria. The award goes to…
Stone sculptors chisel away behind the scenes
By Kundai Marunya Arts Correspondent Sharp clicks can be heard from a distance, the sound of hammers and chisels as they cut into the stone yielding to the creator’s vision. On another work station, a grinder raves as the masters perfect their different stone works, all synchronising to produce a melody that would easily top…
2022 Victoria Falls Carnivals to be held at the Elephant Hills Resort
The Victoria Falls Carnival announced the Elephant Hills Resort as this year’s venue moving away from the traditional Victoria Falls Primary school that has hosted the carnival since inception. The Elephant Hotel is situated just 4 kilometers from the mighty Victoria Falls. The main stage will be set up on the driving range of the…
Mapopoma festival to light up Victoria Falls
VICTORIA Falls will be a hive of activity this Easter weekend as more than 3 000 people throng the city for the annual Mapopoma Festival. The festival will be a major boost to the tourism industry eager for recovery after the COVID-19. Two previous editions were cancelled because of the lockdowns put in place to…
Barack Obama and family visits Zimbabwe
The Former United States president Barack Obama is in Zimbabwe where he has had a tour in Mutarazi, Manicaland. This has been confirmed by the United States based Moreblessing Bore who facilitated his visit to Zimbabwe. Speaking to Manica Post, Moreblessing said Barack Obama would first have a tour in Mutarazi with his wife and…