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Regis Manja

Wellington Kudiwa Entertainment Reporter
Zimbabwean born artist Regis Manja has struck gold in South Africa after being offered his own art work studio by South African well wishers. The multi-talented Manja said the studio has enabled him to start his own school of art in Secunda, Mpumalanga and is a great opportunity for him to advance his various art work around Africa and Europe.

“I still cannot believe that some strangers would just come and admire my work up to this level.

“I totally feel humbled and blessed for this opportunity to further my art work around the globe and to teach young South Africans, who are talented in art and metal sculpturing, to reach their full potential,’’ he said.

The artist said that several companies and private academies had approached him with offers to work for them as their graphic artist but he turned down their offers as he would like to do his own thing and to help young artists develop their skills in the painting and sculpturing industry.

The 38-year old painter, ceramist, sculptor and guitarist is not new in the trade as he has worked with numerous accomplished sculptors and painters including Dominic Benhura and Felix Gora before he ventured into teaching art for eight years. He plied that trade in private schools.

As a teenager, he studied art at BAT Visual Arts Studio in the early 1990s which saw him win numerous accolades from around the world.

“From 1997 to around 1999, I won various international awards in metal sculpture as well as in painting. My main accolade came in 1998 when I won the best youngest artist in African sculptor with my “We were with him yesterday’’ metal statue which was eventually bought for a lot of money by a German national who was in the country for that particular exhibition. I participated in various group exhibitions in many countries including Zimbabwe, South Africa, Germany, the UK, Switzerland, Brazil amongst others,’’ he said.