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Tawanda Marwizi Arts Correspondent
Sculpture has represented our culture and artistic prowess internationally for many years and when the country got independence in 1980, many artists became interested in the art discipline. Galleries sprouted across the country with an inspiration from Tengenenge Arts Centre that has a crop of sculptors who started the work well before Independence.

With Guruve rich in chrome several communities have benefited from the Great Dyke in several ways.

Away from mining activities, one community that has benefited from the Great Dyke is Tengenenge Arts Community.

The Herald Entertainment recently spent time at the arts centre that is now owned by Dominic Benhura the renowned Zimbabwean sculptor.

As you enter the arts centre you are greeted by artifacts of African icons including President Robert Mugabe and Nelson Mandela’s head and shoulder sculpts. An array of stone works in the arts centre conveys different messages to and about local society.

The centre is set up in galleries with each one being the lair of a different artist. Douglas Shawu’s gallery boasts of different animals that represents different totems; lions, elephants and zebras among others. According to our culture, totems are very important and wild animals that represent those totems are venerated by different clans.

“Though we work on several artwork here my inspiration is drawn from totems and as you can see my gallery has a number of these animals,” said Shawu. Wilfred Tembo’s gallery has some exquisitely carved chairs though some quixotic ones can make viewers and buyers laugh. According to Tembo they are artistic renditions of some traditional thrones.

Angas Malola, daughter of the late leader of the community Amali Malola, has her own gallery that has animals and other different figures.

“I was taught to curve these stones by my father and we hope we will take his legacy onwards as Tengenenge Arts family,” she said.

Josiah Manzi who is now the head of the arts community following the death of Amali Malola said they were giving everyone from the community equal opportunity to showcase their skills. “We want the best from this place and we are hoping that everyone from this community will do their best to give the best,” he said. Since its formation in 1963 the arts community has been going strong and produced many sculptors of note.

The sculptors urged organisations and individuals to visit the place to allow it top continue playing its role of helping arts grow in the country.