The artists we work with in Africa are the heart and soul of this business, and we take great pride in bringing you their personal stories and voice.

Abson Sibanda Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Abson comes from the Victoria Falls area and has been carving since he was 14 years old. He has been supporting himself with his art and is married with 3 children.
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Amos Guta Ruwa, Zimbabwe
Here is the story of the creator of these sculptures in his own words: "I, Amos Guta, was born on 25 May 1972, and brought up by my blacksmith father. I did smithing very well during all my schooling years...I hunted for jobs and failed until 1994, when God handed me over to Artwork Missions. After my training, I started woodcarving and then designed fine art. In 1996, God multiplied my ideas and I became the first person to create sculptures from metal shavings."
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Benjamin Mashaya Harare, Zimbabwe
Benjamin was born in 1986 in a mountainous area of Zimbabwe called Nyanga. Benjamin was drawing by the time he was five years old, and by 16 he began to sculpt. Initially he worked as an apprentice to his brother and his early sculptures were displayed at Nyamhuka Art Gallery in Nyanga. Benjamin is now a full time artist and has exhibited his work all over the world including Germany, Holland, the United Kingdom and in the United States.
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Birdwoods Metal Sculpture Harare, Zimbabwe
The metal bird sculptures are one of our most popular lines. This product line is an exclusive of Mbare Ltd. All of the birds are carefully hand crafted into whimiscal poses, produced from scrap metal and old oil drums. Zimbabwean ingenuity turns this waste into innovative sculptures, with birds of both the African and American variety.
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Cephas Mashaya Harare, Zimbabwe
Cephas Mashaya is a talented artist that began sculpting in stone at the age of 6.
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Chandi Masara Harare, Zimbabwe
Currently based in Tafara, a high-density suburb of Harare, Chandi works primarily by himself with occasional help from his younger brother. The second eldest of six children, Chandi learned to carve from his older brother after their mother's death in 1981. Learning a craft and completing his secondary education has enabled Chandi to earn a living for himself through art.
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Crispen Salt Harare, Zimbabwe
Carving since 1993 young Crispen Salt apprenticed under the direction of two master Shona carvers with 20 years of experience each. "If I see a fun thing or a picture, I try to bring it into stone. I use my imagination to make my work more fantastic," says Crispen, "so more people will like it." Crispen's "dancing families" are among the most sophisticated abstract stone sculptures in the Shona tradition.
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Cuthbert Tendayi Harare, Zimbabwe
Cuthbert Tendayi is recognized for the clean lines and attention to detail that is prominent throughout his works.
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Eckel Nyamondoro Harare, Zimbabwe
Eckel Nyamondoro was born in 1972 in the Guruve district, a region of Zimbabwe with strong sculpting traditions. He comes from a large family in the Kore Kore tribe. At the age of twenty Eckel joined his cousin Enos Chengo at his sculpting studio where he stayed for four years. He found the experience inspirational and decided that he wanted to devote his life to art. He went on later to join various artist groups and sculpted in other studios - further enhancing his skills and techniques. This encouraged him to experiment with contemporary styles of carving and to develop his on creative forms. Eckel draws on tribal mythology for inspiration and his pieces have a spiritual, contemplative quality. He depicts the unity between man and nature, encouraging his viewer to appreciate the connection. He sculpts 'in the round' often defying the viewer to decide which is the front or back of the sculpture. A hallmark of his work is the elaborate detailing on many of his sculptures, with intricate chiseling work. He loves to carve springstone, opal cobalt and fruit serpentine. Eckel has participated in a number of group exhibitions, most notably at the San Diego Art Institute in 1997, at the Museum Pierce of Zurich and in Sarasota, Florida in 1999. His work has sold to galleries and collectors in Germany, Belgium, Canada, Italy, Holland, Ireland, Poland, USA, Australia, Finland, china, Spain, Denmark, Korea and South Africa. In July 2002 he was invited to attend an African-German sculpture event in St. Andreasberg Harz where he held a successful exhibition as well as running a workshop. Eckel is now at a stage where he is able to teach others and hold his own exhibitions.
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Edson Nkomo
Born in Chegutu in 1968 in a family of 8, Edson was educated in a rural area of Zimbabwe. He wanted to be a teacher but the expense was too great, so he began carving stone with his grandfather. They specialized in hippos and eventually moved to Harare to sell their carvings to tourists. In 1994 he joined Tazora Arts and Crafts and in 1996 began supplying Mbare, Ltd. with his sculptures. He has a wife and two children and hopes to earn enough to build his own home.
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Ernest Nyagato Harare, Zimbabwe
Ernest Nyagato was born in Nyanga in 1983. Drawing pictures and playing with clay in his childhood brought him the confidence he needed to begin sculpting with his brother Tonderai Nyagato in 2003. Ernest is now working with experienced artists at Mashaya Workshop and Gallery. His sculptures have been exhibited a HIFA 2008 and LAFINCA in southern Africa and he has sold his sculptures to collectors around the world.
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Godfrey Matungamidze Zimbabwe
Godfrey is currently producing abstract pieces that follow the shape of the stone and have a lot of movement, along with a particular style of head sculptures.
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GoGo Olive Mutare, Zimbabwe
Gogo Olive was set up in Mutare in the Eastern Highlands of Zimabwe in November 2008 to give local women the opportunity to use their craft skills to build a future for themselves and their families. Knitting was chosen as it only requires basic materials, it can be done anywhere and at any time and is a skill that is practical for the women to learn. We began as a small group of 6 ladies and following the success of this group we have added to the numbers and also introduced the group into a local prison. Over 25 women are now involved in Gogo Olive. Knitting the animals has become a part of the rehabilitation process for the women in prison, it gives them something positive to focus on and allows them to meet practical needs that they or their families have, both whilst they are in prison and after release. Each animal is lovingly and completely handmade and has as much individuality and character as the lady who knitted it!
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Improved Arts Harare, Zimbabwe
The Improved Arts Metal Sculptors Project was formed by five brothers, the Mukankha brothers, in 1986. Thanks to their artistic talents and this program they are able to earn a better living than what their family did when they were young.
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James Chidzenga
"I was given responsibilities as a youngster, such as helping in the fields and herding cattle," James says. A bit later, he began sculpting and his work started to attract attention. The idea of carving the human torso came to him over time, as he noticed that torsos have " so many interesting and varying shapes...and have a particular purpose in our lives." Jame's works also include abstract elephants and giraffe families.
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John Chenguruve Harare, Zimbabwe
Famous for his enchanting sculptures of zebras, tortoises, and guinea hens, John is among the most accomplished artists in Zimbabwe. His sense of design is unique, and he does all the carving and finishing work himself. The very spirit of these animals seems to live and breathe beneath the warm, lustrous wood of John's sculptures.
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Lawrence Mazorodze Mutare, Zimbabwe
Lawrence was born in 1971 in Rusape, Zimbabwe. Having lost his father as a youngster, he was able to complete only a few years of formal education. He apprenticed with a master stone carver and has been practicing his skills for almost twenty years. He currently lives in Mutare with his wife and two children. He is able to support his family with his art and has hired two assistants who are apprenticing under him.
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Maison Dorcas Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Maison Dorcas (Dorcas House) is a development project created in 1995 to provide employment and training for women in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
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Makoulpa Johannesburg, S. Africa
Paul Gibbs and Tony Prischl, both jewelers with 26 years of experience, started a jewelry manufacturing company in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1975. After years of producing many fine items of jewelry for both private individuals and wholesalers, they created the unique pewter "African Puzzle" in 1994. The puzzle proved to be very popular. Paul and Tony saw the need for a high quality, upmarket range of gift products to satisfy the South African local and tourist market. In July of 1996, ready for a change in careers, they formed their new company, Makoulpa. Makoulpa means tortoise in Creole.

This business has provided them with the perfect avenue to use their jewelry expertise to communicate their love of Africa and its wildlife through the production of a pewter range of animal accented products. "We find it extremely satisfying to accurately depict one of Africa's greatest resources, its wildlife, in each of our products," says Paul. "We are inspired by the challenge of creating functional products with the animal theme as our common thread." Tony adds, "Our goal is to develop a complete range of unique products that add value to people's lives in the sense that they are artistically pleasing and can still be used on a daily basis. We want people to live with the beauty of African wildlife."
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Mamadou Kieta Dakar, Senegal
Mamadou Keita was born in Mali and now runs a small retail and production shop in the bustling heart of Dakar, Senegal.
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Mutemeri Makwavarara
Educated in Mhondoro and Mutoko, Mutemeri currently works alone from Mhondoro. He has no formal training but learned how to carve from his colleagues. Mutemeri is the fifth child in a family of seven. He recently married and has one child of his own.
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Ngoni Mashaya Harare, Zimbabwe
Ngonidzashe Mashaya was born in 1977 in Nyanga. He has exhibited at HIFA 2009 at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. Ngonidzashe's sculptures have also been exhibited in the Netherlands, Germany, Korea, the United States and many other countries. His work has been displayed in Zimbabwe at Chapungu, Yhukutiwa, and the National Gallery.
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Ngoni Shamuyarira Harare, Zimbabwe
Now in his 30's, Ngoni has been carving since he was very young. Completing his secondary education in Chiota, he realized that this hobby could become a profession. Ngoni works with several other wood carvers in teh area. He is married and has four children.
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Ngwenya Glass Ngwenya, Swaziland
Mountains encircle the tiny African kingdom of Swaziland, including one that resembles a basking crocodile. Atop the mountain is an ancient iron ore mine, and at the foot of the mountain is the village of Ngwenya, the Siswati word for "crocodile."
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Oumar Diong Dakar, Senegal
Mangwere Thomas is the original artist for our tin ornaments and tin critters. He taught this craft to his son, Daniel, and they have been been making art together for twenty years.
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Panganai Kwinjo
Born into a family of three boys and two girls, Panagnai has been carving sculptures in stone for over 10 years. He credits the joys of growing up in his own family for his inspiration.
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Peter Tendenguwo
Peter was born in Murehwa in 1975. He completed his Primary and Secondary education and became interested in art after visiting his brothers in Harare, Zimbabwe. He now sculpts beautiful birds from stone, natural wood and in mixed media of deadwood and metal. His birds are inspired by the natural forms of the materials he uses. As an artist, Peter is very aware of the effects of environmental degradation and believes that using found wood and stone is an important part of his art.
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Phathisa Weza Harare, Zimbabwe
Phathisa comes from a family of carvers, and began carving in 2000 under the instruction of his brother. He continues the family tradition by carving our beautiful giraffes out of Jacaranda wood. He is originally from Victoria Falls, where the rest of his family still resides in a village in the rural area surrounding the Falls. Nowadays he resides in Chitungwiza, Harare, where he is the father of two boys and a girl.
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Precious Mashaya Harare, Zimbabwe
Precious was born in 1975 in Nyanga and began sculpting in the early 1990's. He inspired his younger brothers and other relatives and friends in Nyanga to take up sculpting as well. Precious has displayed his work in many exhibitions in Harare as well as in the United States, Canada, many countries in Europe, South Korea and Africa. His inspiration and vision is to see the name of the Mashaya family as being synonymous with sculpting. Precious Mashaya now lives in Ruwa, Harare.
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Raina Mazwiembiri Harare, Zimbabwe
Raina's husband, George, started making seedpod birds as a means to earn extra income for their family in 1994. A few years later Raina joined him and together they sold their birds at local craft shops and markets. As her husband moved on to other endeavors Raina took over the enterprise on her own and now works with two of her daughters. The seedpods are not found in quantity in the area where they live, so they have to travel seven hours to the Bulawayo area to pick them, and then travel back home. They use the seedpod as the body of the bird, shaped wire for the legs, and putty for the beaks. Then they hand paint the birds with bright colors one at a time. Raina and George have seven children and live in Ruwa, Zimbabwe.
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Rootz Creationz KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Rootz Creationz, creator of our new Bottle Boxes, is based in the province of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa. For 16 years they have designed and produced African inspired gifts that combine indigenous handcrafting skills and contemporary designs.
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Ros Byrne Ruwa, Zimbabwe
Ros Byrne started work as a potter in a small studio in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 1984.
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Rufaro Ngoma
Rufaro was born near Nyanga in 1981 and grew up loving the sculptures in the gallery of Nyanga Craft Centre.
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Samuel & Gladys Mashava Mutare, Zimbabwe
Samuel and his wife Gladys have been working together as a team for over 12 years, he does the carving and she sands the sculptures. They produce the "Family of Three" and "Family of Four" sculptures. They have two daughters and live in the town of Mutare, Zimbabwe.
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Sidley Patala Harare, Zimbabwe
Discovering his vocation several years ago, Sidley has established himself as an accomplished Shona sculptor. His "Family of Four" is a testament to his own joy in being "married to Prisca Dudyanga with one daughter, Tsitsi." Sidley also creates Mbare's "Mother and Child" series of sculptures. In his spare time, he loves film comedies and "playing and watching soccer."
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Tavie Cooperative Northern Niger
Tavie products tell a story. A story of passion and pride. A story of thousands of Touareg women in pursuit of a better life for themselves and the village communities they belong to. Tavie gives them this chance. The Touareg are a proud people. They are one of the last remaining tribes still leading a nomadic life. Within the Touareg tribe women have always been in control. They own the tent, take the most important family decisions and pass on the Touareg culture to their children. Unfortunately a mix of circumstances leads to the gradual disintegration of this fascinating culture. Long periods of drought, repressive government measures and the power of Islam make the Touareg believe they are forced to settle in one place. Due to this the Touareg women slowly change from strong matriarchs into subordinates. Nevertheless strength and courage motivate the women to continue fighting for their proud culture and to keep looking for change. Tavie products are a fine reflection of this fascinating culture. The collection is made up of baskets, dishes and bowls all made by hand using the young leaves of the Doum palm. This natural, ecological material is richly abundant in the living environment of the Touareg and the products have always been used in the nomadic life of the people. The craft of working with palm leaves using the technique of ‘poinçon’ has a long and strong tradition in the community of Touareg women.
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Tawanda Makore Harare, Zimbabwe
Born in the Zimbabwean province of Midlands in the city of Kwekwe in 1979, Tawanda Makore was inspired from an early age by his uncle - the late Akence Makore - who was a renowned sculptor. He was further influenced by the cubic sculptures produced by Zotoh Sango. He soon developed his own technique and style, and eventually joined various artist groups. In 2006 he joined a group of artists based in Harare, Zimbabwe's capital. He is one of the new generation of young artists whose work has become distinctive. He is being recognized as one of the major talents to emerge from Zimbabwe today. His work has evolved to become a unique style of three dimensional sculptures which he calls Vision Sculptures with a a pure, experimental touch. Well-known art collectors in Europe and the USA have exhibited Tawanda's work. "In my sculptures the elements of essence and appearance are always inseparably linked. The essence being to depict and outward appearance of form. I sometimes abstract some details so as to draw the viewer to my purpose, thereby enabling the essence of my art to be easily absorbed. This is cognizant of taan abstract artist's way of thinking through the creation of an experimental approach to sculpture. I draw my inspiration from the every changing shape of my namesake, the clouds (Makore means cloud in Shona) whenever I look up into the sky."
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Temba Nyagato Harare, Zimbabwe
Born in 1986 in Nyanga, during his childhood he worked with clay and enjoyed carving wood. In 2006 he moved to Harare where he learned to carve hard stone under the guidance of Tonderai Nyagato. His work is displayed at the Greendale Studio.
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The Sisi Project Johannesbrg, South Africa
"Sisi" is a colloquialism for sister. "Pro" is a positive action.
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Thomas Family Harare, Zimbabwe
Mangwere Thomas is the original artist for our tin ornaments and tin critters. He taught this craft to his son, Daniel, and they have been been making art together for twenty years.
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Tichawona Makwavarara
Tichawona was born in Mabvuku, Harare in 1970.
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Timmy Sandu
After being inspired by an artist friend, Timmy began sculpting in 1994. He specializes in dancing couples and lovers, which, he says, depict "the loving ones dancing as they celebrate the different stages of life..." Timmy now works with 16 other artists in a cooperative called Tazorora Arts & Crafts.
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Tintsaba Swaziland
Tintsaba was created in 1985 by Sheila Freemantle with the purpose of improving the lives of rural women in Swaziland. With an academic background in development, she believed that creating an income generating opportunity for the women will help them become happier, healthier individuals, women that could take charge of their lives. The small business that started with 12 women has to date worked with and trained more than 890 women, and nowadays sells its products in more than xxx countries, where they are recognized for the outstanding quality and refinement, as well as for the beautiful story attached to them. Tintsaba is committed to excellence in every aspect. In the creation of the highest quality hand woven sisal products, in the service, in the teamwork, in the commitment to the earth and the holistic wellbeing of rural women in Swaziland.
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Tonderai Nyagato Harare, Zimbabwe
Tonderai was born in 1977 in Nyanga. In this Eastern Highlands environment where he grew up he developed a deep love for art and enrolled at the Mash Home Gallery as an apprentice sculptor. Through the encouragement and motivation of more experienced cousins, Tonderai's form and expressions in stone began to take shape. He has had the privilege to exhibit his work overseas and at the Chapungu Sculpture Park in Harare.
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Venassa Rangissee
Venassa was born in 1959 and is the eldest in a family of eight children. His mother still lives in Mozambique but his father, also a stone carver, is in Zimbabwe. Venassa worked as a builder up until 1991. He was exposed to art when he built a house for an artist. Intrigued, Venasssa asked the artist to show him how he produced his work. This was when Venassa discovered his artistic talent and marked the beginning of his life as an artist. Venassa is married with six children.
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Victor Mahwehwe
Victor was born in 1969 and has received a diploma in Art. He is currently working from Norton within a cooperative. He has been working as an artist in Zimbabwe for more than thirteen years after training for three years at Driefontein Mission. Over the years his sculptures have been selected for major exhibitions. He is the fourth of nine children and is now married with three children of his own.
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Wimbai Ngoma Harare, Zimbabwe
Wimbai Ngoma was born in 1975 in Nyanga. After finishing his schooling he enrolled at Chapungu Sculpture Park as a sculptor apprentice. After this initial training he started to work on his own in 1997 and began producing highly acclaimed sculptures and participating in many local exhibitions. He has been honored at the Agio Sculptors Symposium in 2005 and won the "celebration" award sponsored by the Korean Embassy in 2007. In 2008 and 2011 he was invited for an exhibition and workshop in Germany where his work was displayed at the Botanical Gardens in Dortmund. His ambition is to develop an art center in the future.
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Yeukai Tanyara Harare, Zimbabwe
Yeukai Tanyara is one of the artists that hand paints our tin ornaments and tin critters.
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Yunah Mavhurume Harare, Zimbabwe
Yunah transforms Abson Sibanda's wooden giraffes into whimsical creatures by painting them one by one with vibrant colors. She currently lives with her parents and is saving up to get a place of her own.
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