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Kundai Marunya Arts Correspondent
Visual art has always been part of our story as a people.
Dating back to rock painting, stone sculptures of the famous Zimbabwe Bird and even wood carvings of “Mutsago” — traditional headrests. It has been a very important way to preserve and document history for those who come after us.
As our story grows, so other the forms of art, with different creatives re-imaging how to carve, mould and craft their narrations.
Mazowe artisan miners Felix Agushito (43) and Werrison Ephraim (28) chose to craft their different narrations including football, wildlife, modern architecture and even historic figures in beads and wire crafts.
Their journey started with Agushito travelling to the neighbouring South Africa back in 2009, to seek greener pastures. As he settled in KwaZulu-Natal province, work did not come easy. He had to tap into his in-born creativity.
“I had friends who were making key holders using wires and beads. They taught me the trade.
“I did not want to compete with their crafts, so I ended tapping into my Technical Graphics knowledge acquired at Harare High to diversify my work,” said Agushito.
He moved to make building structures and different architectures for construction companies, providing them with three-dimensional models they used to give their clients better visuals of what they were planning to build.
“One of my famous models is that of the Blackburn Pedestrian Bridge in Durban,” he said. The bridge is one of Durban’s celebrated landmark features.
In the dawn of South Africa hosting World Cup finals, Agushito fed on the euphoria, crafting figures of popular football stars and stadiums.
He also recognised the importance of history to both tourists who would love to “own a piece of South Africa” and locals who took pride in their icons.
“I made figures of top footballers including Benni McCarthy and Didier Drogba, and also of popular World Cup stadiums including the Moses Mabida in Durban. “As for historic figures I made figures of Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki,” said Agushito.
His work has been sold far and wide, taken to different countries while some of it was chosen to be part of permanent collections at South African galleries.
“Some of my work is in the KwaZulu-Natal Gallery, Pietermaritzburg Gallery and Durban Gallery,” he said.
Since moving back home in 2011, Agushito is just starting to make strides to get into the local art scene.
“For the better part of my stay since returning I have been focusing on mining in Mazowe.
“I recently decided to go back to my creative ways thus I’ve been working with Werrison Ephraim in both making and selling my art,” he said.
Agushito does most of the craft work while Ephraim goes around selling their wares in the leafy suburbs of Harare.
“Figures of Khama Billiat have so far been our best sellers, followed by figures of Knowledge Musona.
“I’ve also constructed a wire and beads model of the National Sports Stadium,” said Agushito.
Though the duo plan to expand their work, material has remained a challenge due to foreign currency shortages.
They cannot afford to import their material from South Africa, thus in the end have to settle for dealers who smuggle it in and sell at lower prices in Chitungwiza.
As the year goes forward, the two wish to be able to exhibit their work in local galleries.
Online Reporter