Shona Artists from Zimbabwe
Eckel Nyamhondoro
Eckel Nyamhondoro was born in Guruve District on August 4,1972. His totem is Soko Wafawanaka (Monkey) and he comes from the Korekore tribe. Eckel attended secondary school until 1990. Due to his large family of 15 boys and 14 girls (his father had 4 wives) and a shortage of money he could not carry on with school.
In 1992 he decided to live with his cousin Enos Chengo who inspired him to carve stone. He worked with him for four years. With is creative mind he became and independent artist in 1995 and it is then he joined the Tengenenge Art Community where he has a permanent dispay. Eckel is now at a stage where he is able to teach others and hold his own exhibitions. He joined Rukodzi Shona Sculpture Studio for two years where he was practicing contemporary sculpture. He loves to carve springstone, opal, cobalt and fruit serpentine.
In 1997 he exhibited at the museum of Art Auditorium; San Diego Art Institute in 1998; and Museum Pierce of Zurich, Inc. Sarasota Florida in 1999. He has also exhibited in Germany, Canada, Belgium, Italy, Holland, North Ireland, Poland and South Africa.
Singi Chihota
Singi Chihota was born in Centenary in 1975 and grew up in Chitungwiza until grade 3 and moved to his communal lands in Guruve where he finished his Primary and Secondary Education. His tribe is Shona and his totem is Zezuru Tembo Mazvimbakupa (Zebra). .
Born into an artistic family, he started carving in 1987 where his father Luke Chihota was weaving fruit baskets and garden chairs as well as sculpting with stone. Singi's work is based on Shona tradition and he has been exhibited extensively outside and inside Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe he has had exhibitions at the National Heritage Zimbabwe in 1994 and Singi got a highly commended certificate represented by the National Art Gallery. In 2000 Singi got a promotional stand in Harare International Airport where he has a permanent collection. Out Of Zimbabwe Singi has exhibited in San Diego in 1994, in Atlanta in 1996 and Canada in 2001.
Bvuma Chabvuta
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Bvuma Chabvuta was born in Guruve and practices the religion of ancestor worship. He completed his O levels in school and went straight into sculpting full time under the watchful eye of Bernard Matemera. Bvuma's favorite subjects are animals and people because of the different shapes and styles and uses a lot of imagination in his art.
In Zimbabwe Bvuma has exhibited in the National Gallery in Harare, Jacaranda room Sheraton Harare, Chapungu Harare and Stonegate safaris Harare. Outside of Zimbabwe Bvuma has exhibited in World Art Foundation Holland, Africa Sentrum Holland, Ben Yoosten, Gert and Harry, Hedendaagse africaanse Kunst and Mega gallery Holland.
Wellington Karuru
The soft spoken Wellington Karuru was born on August 17, 1976. He is the first born in a family of 5 children and has two brothers and two sisters. Both his brothers, Gilbert and Esau, are also sculptors.
He did his primary and secondary education in Mashonaland West Province and was involved in almost every sporting activity at the school. After school he was employed at National Foods LTD where he worked as a machine operator for a period of four years and was later promoted to work as a sales clerk.
In his free time he assisted some well known artists in sculpting, learning from them and soon developed his own talent. Inspired by such big names as Gardener Sango and Garison Muchinjili he started to sculpt some small pieces for himself and soon found a buyer for his favourite piece entitled "A cry for help" . He went to work with Garison Machinjili whose influence is clearly shown in his work. Some of his pieces have been chosen already for international exhibition and galleries. His reputation as a serious , gifted and hardworking artist is growing and even some of the greatest established artists, including Joe Mutasa, are promoting him.
