Call for a comprehensive arts policy in Zimbabwe

By Zandile Zaza Ndlovu Zimbabwe Arts practitioners have made an urgent call for the establishment of a comprehensive arts policy that will guide operations within the sector. A dearth of arts policies that speak to artistes, lack of knowledge on various art forms by local consumers and challenges on building and harnessing audiences locally and…

History of the Tengenenge Sculpture Community and how Bloemfield wanted to keep it in the dark ages

Tom Bloemfield is eulogized for having ‘persuaded’ his farm workers to, “try their hand at sculpture” purely for altruistic reasons; out of concern for their livelihoods and after he became aware of a huge deposit of black serpentine (rock) situated on a hill on his farm. This, however, is a fallacy. His farm workers were…

Contribution of art to travel, tourism and the Zimbabwe economy

BY SIMBARASHE RUSSELL SIYAKURIMA To argue the contribution of art in travel and tourism, one has to understand the two factors in question. Art and Tourism. In very simplistic terminology, Travel and Tourism has to do with the sightseeing, exporting the scenic national natural beauty, promoting international understanding through popular cultural exchange programs, etc. The…

Zimbabwe’s incomplete PayPal experience adds to cash crisis frustrations

PayPal, the American online money transfer, is undoubtedly a global online transactions giant. According to its own account, it has 179 million accounts drawn from 190 markets. In 2014 it gave Zimbabweans a glimmer of hope by lifting what, by all definitions, was an embargo on Zimbabwe by starting to allow accounts with Zimbabwean cards and…

Bob Marley statue for Zimbabwe?

HARARE – After months of negotiations with the late global reggae icon’s representatives, Martin Chemhere, a South Africa-based Zimbabwean arts and media consultant says he has finally been given a go ahead to organise the creation and installation of Bob Marley’s statue in Zimbabwe. He says he received the message of confirmation via email on January…

Zimbabwe Arts Festival: Artists turn rubbish into beauty

This year Zimbabwe hosted the Harare International Festival of the Arts. In a country dealing with cash shortages, power cuts and high unemployment, artists have been striving to reveal a beauty in the environment around them. Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa reports from Harare.

Budding writers cry foul over economic crisis, isolation

LOCAL budding writers have blamed the economic crisis in the country and the shrinking book market, combined with Zimbabwe’s international isolation for the compromised quality of work on the market. Speaking at the just-ended Zimbabwe International Book Fair (ZIBF), the new generation of writers said the state of the economy is forcing them to split…

Dominic Benhura Honours President Kaunda With Sculpture

Renowned sculptor Dominic Benhura recently presented former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda with a stone sculpture in honour of his 93rd birthday. The founding father of the Republic of Zambia turned 93 on April 28 and was given the sculpture of a hand holding a white handkerchief, his trademark symbol for peace. Benhura combined black spring-stone…

Gallery sponsorship critical link to trade

The importance of businesses supporting the arts is not a frivolous pursuit. The arts play an important role and, when they thrive, it benefits not just the practitioners but also the country as a whole. In this economically driven world, the arts require adequate funding in order to thrive.

Father’s death inspires Kamudzengerere

Visual artist Admire Kamudzengerere, who is set to exhibit his works at the Catinca Tabacaru Gallery in New York, beginning tomorrow, said his father’s death inspired him to take up art.