The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube
Entertainment Correspondent
WHEN he moved to Mutare from Mazowe in 1979, young David Chimuka, who was 24 then, had a dream.
He had been trained by a visual art enthusiast, Roy Gathry, who was Spanish and fascinated by telling the African culture through crafting.
He had a passion of telling stories through crafts using artefacts such as stones, wood and litter among other things.
He also had a dream of inspiring others, especially youths, educating them on the use of using available resources and craft beautiful objects, and move towards self-reliance and self-sustenance.
He found a safe haven and working place under a tree shade along Kumbirai Kangai (Aerodrome) Road in 1980 when Zimbabwe attained its independence from the yoke of the British rule where he mooted his rollercoaster crafting expedition.
44 years later, Chimuka, a craftsman and founder of Chimuka Art and Craft Foundation Trust, has inspired many lives, and writes beautiful stories, transforming what is in his mind into sculptor, while training individuals and visual arts enthusiasts in schools and in the society to work on stone carving, wood carving, garbage recycling, for instance, weaving chairs using banana tree dried leaves.
Chimuka Arts and Craft, is a registered company and they are operating as Chimuka Art and Craft Foundation Trust. They conduct their business as a family.
“We started as early as 1981 when I cleared the site I am now operating from. It was full of garbage and there were no surrounding buildings then.
“We created a bond with a lot of people over the years, locally and abroad and from as far as France, India and Egypt among other areas.
“We have managed to impart knowledge to young people in schools across Manicaland as we encourage them to recycle garbage and available natural resources and come up with crafts. We mainly focus on arts and crafts, for instance, using banana materials for baskets weaving. Sculptor is our major point of focus, and we are glad that we have been consistent since independence.
“We have been holding practical lessons as well as assisting schools to undertake projects that have something to do with arts and crafts. We intend to create a platform where the society, including youths learn to be self-reliant and encourage schools to prioritise visual arts, while encouraging communities to appreciate art. Since 1979, it has always been my dream to transform the world through visual arts. We also aim to become a world-class dynamic culture venture that will influence tangible and intangible arts and crafts practical skills in the community,” said Chimuka.
Born in 1958, Chimuka, however, bemoans lack of support and failure by some sections of the community to appreciate the beauty and importance of promoting and preserving the cultural values of Zimbabwe through visual art.
He said although more people are now beginning to appreciate their work through buying their wares as well as having the zeal to learn and have practical lessons on crafting and weaving, it is saddening to note that foreign tourists are still outnumbering locals in visiting their base.
“There is need to preserve our culture. It is our duty, and we are obliged to change the attitude people have on art and crafts. Youths can earn a living through handiworks.
“The world is evolving into a self-sustenance era, and we should encourage our children at home and at school to work for themselves. We have been doing our best, and our best is not good enough. Some schools usually visit our workplace and we impart them with practical knowledge on crafting some pieces as well as teaching them to use their hands to make money and be self-sufficient,” added Chimuka.
