How an Award-Winning Victoria Falls Stone Sculptor is Inspiring High School Students to Take Part in Environmental Conservation in the Hwange District

As the famous English novelist Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton once wrote: “The best teacher is the one who suggests rather than dogmatizes, and inspires his listener with the wish to teach himself.” In the Hwange district, a Victoria Falls stone sculptor Mr Brian Nyanongo is making a difference by inspiring high school learners to actively participate in environmental conservation through stone and wood sculpting.

Through a series of stone sculpting workshops across the Hwange District High schools the award winning stone sculptor is teaching pupils the importance of conserving natural resources and using sustainable methods of stone carving. He is teaching them how to use traditional techniques to carve stones without causing harm to the environment. He is also teaching them about the importance of sustainability and how they can positively impact the environment. The talented artist, recognised for his exceptional artistry, is using his craft to educate and inspire the younger generation about the importance of preserving nature and biodiversity.

In an interview with Chronicle, Mr Nyanongo said he is working with Marist Brothers Dete High School and five other schools in Matabeleland North province. That is at Lupane, Mabhikwa High School and Fatima High School. In Hwange Marist, Dete and Nejambezi Secondary Schools. In Binga, Binga High School and Siansundu Secondary School. This is part of an outreach program under the Multicultural Art Incubation Project that he is doing with the partnership of Culture Fund Zimbabwe and Creative Action 2 funded by the European Union. Having been an Artist/Sculptor former teacher, curator, administrator and personal assistant to Roy Guthrine at Chapungu Sculpture Park.

The Victoria Falls stone sculptor opened up a small space/ gallery Rawstone Galleries in Victoria Falls specialising in his own work and that of his family members as an honour to his late Father Claudio a renowned stone sculptor himself. The artist has experience of doing sculpting workshops in Germany, America and the United Kingdom and would like to use this experience in my own country. The multicultural art project seeks inclusivity of all tribes/cultures found in Zimbabwe and most of all Victoria Falls; Ndebele, Tonga, Nambya, Nyanja and Shona. Apart from the art classes held in school, artists in the same province partake in these workshops in Monde Village 10 kms outside Victoria Falls and introduce them to working in stone.

“For the school kids this is an opportunity for them to realise their potential, express and define their cultures in any way they are never wrong”, says Mr Nyanongo

Mr Nyanongo is leveraging artistic talents to ignite a passion for environmental conservation among the high school students in the Hwange district which is home to the famous Hwange National Park. By showcasing their intricate sculptures made from natural materials such as stone and wood, the artist is raising awareness about the beauty and fragility of our environment. Students are also being taught about the value of preserving natural resources, and encouraged to take action to protect the environment and its inhabitants. The sculptor hopes to inspire and empower students to become stewards of their environment.

“I have no permanent themes to my work though I try hard to be a reflection of my culture and day to day life experiences and bring about a concession of respect for wellbeing and family values. A lot of my works touch on wildlife and environmental issues as they relate to human life,” says Mr. Nyanongo. Consequently, his visits to local schools are not limited to showcasing his artwork; he also delivers interactive lessons to students and teachers. These lessons are designed to educate students about the environmental challenges faced by the Hwange district and the importance of conservation.

Using stone sculpting, Mr Nyanongo inspires high school pupils about environmental conservation, demonstrating that art can convey important messages, and that the children can use their sculptures as teaching aids. In addition to classroom lessons, the artist also offers workshops in which other artists can create sculptures with natural materials. Workshops such as these foster creativity and appreciation for nature while introducing students to sculpting techniques.