Story by Tapiwa Machemedze
THE renowned Tengenenge Arts Centre, a celebrated hub for Zimbabwean stone sculpture located in Guruve, is poised for a significant revitalisation, spearheaded by the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.
The initiative aims to transform the centre into a thriving tourist attraction and arts training facility.
With a tap and chip, Douglas Chawota, a sculptor at Tengenenge Arts, coaxes shapes from silent stone, lost in his world of hammer and chisel. Each strike is a whisper to the rock, revealing a form that may one day journey far beyond Zimbabwe, finding a home in a distant gallery or a faraway heart.
“I was never taught to sculpt but I was taught to hold tools by someone called Bakarimanzi. I can say I have been doing this job for 26 years,” Chawota said.
Tengenenge is one of the largest community arts centres with 75 out of 105 artistes residing in the arts village and each artiste holding an average stock of 70 pieces at any given time.
“I ventured into art in 1991. Back when we joined, we would be first attached before we could get a stand, Tom Blomefield wanted to test us to see if we could survive for a period of three months on art,” sculptor, Isa Sims explained.
“My first work which went to the National Art Gallery was made in 1980 and I have not stopped since then. I am happy with this work, it sustains me. I never used to sculpt these half-moons but my father came to me in a dream and told me to sculpt these pieces. He said this would sustain me and my family. It sells like hot cakes when buyers come, I do not sell single pieces but I sell dozens of them,” another sculptor, Gift Bangura said.
The National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe recently appointed its Regional Manager, Newstan Chipoyera to set up base in Guruve and spearhead transformation of the world-renowned arts centre.
“As the National Art Gallery, our thrust is to revive the centre especially the museum behind here, we are going to start renovations shortly,” Mr Chipoyera said.
“We will start with repairs on the roof and this will be one of four schools for students to come and learn art. We also have an MOU with the Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) arts department and we will receive students for attachment. Schools also providing art have an opportunity to come and interface with our artistes in workshops and exhibition-park.”
Founded in 1966 by the late Tom Blomefield, Tengenenge Arts Centre has received international acclaim. Plans are afoot for Tengenenge to host traditional dance ceremonies and cultural festivals. Apart from stone sculptors, the centre also covers visual arts, wood carving, painting and making of mats.
