Title: ZCC Defe Dopota
Artist: Shelton Shavi
Size: approx 12.5″w x 12.5″h
Zimbabwe Weya Art hand painted wooden tray, folk art
Cost: $60 – includes free shipping in the continental U.S.

The piece includes the hand written story by the artist and her bio on the back.

The Story:

One of the common church groups in Zimbabwe which is called Zion Christian Church (ZCC). Defe Dopota is performing.

1. They are at their leader’s place.  Women are dancing same style. They are dressed smartly.  Men are responding by stylish dancing as well.
2. Some are adding music with pianos, drums and Hosho.

Artist Bio:

Shelton was born in Epworth, outside of Harare, in 1982, one of seven children.  He went through the equivalent of 9th grade, stopping because the family had no money to pay school fees.  He came to Weya in 2000 because life was difficult in the city.  He stays with his aunt and helps her with agriculture, but it is not fulfilling work and provides him with no money.  He began to study painting with his half-sister, artist Alletah Chehore, in 2002.  “Art was my best subject when I was in school and I want to make some money.”

Title: Village Life
Artist: Absolute Majongah
Size: approx 12.5″w x 12.5″h
Zimbabwe Weya Art hand painted wooden tray, folk art
Cost: $60 – includes free shipping in the continental U.S.

The piece includes the hand written story by the artist and her bio on the back.

The Story:

Rudo, Chido and Sekai are carrying firewood.  Tendai and Rutaro are carrying buckets of water.  The boys are playing soccer.  Mr. Muta is sitting whilst Mrs. Muta is grinding some peanut butter.  Serena is pounding.  Chipo is winnowing and Mrs. Futema and Mrs. Mata are carrying buckets of water.

Artist Bio:

Absolute was born in 1977 in Chihota, the first born of four daughters. She finished the equivalent of 10th grade and then did a dressmaking cutting and design course.  She did sewing work for 5 years.  She was married in 2004 but divorced.  Absolute began to do art in 2006, to have enough money to support her children and her deceased sister’s children.  Absolute passed away in October 2015 of a heart condition.

Title: Picking Wild Fruits
Artist: Milcah Mashon-Ganyika
Size: approx 12.5″w x 12.5″h
Zimbabwe Weya Art hand painted wooden tray, folk art
Cost: $60 – includes free shipping in the continental U.S.

The piece includes the hand written story by the artist and her bio on the back.

The Story:

People are busy picking wild fruits.  Others are picking wild fruits to eat at their homes.  Mother is carrying firewood.  Mrs Choto is carrying dish full of wild fruit.

Artist Bio:

Born in 1966, Milcah was raised in a family of 6 children.  She was married in 1982 and has 5 children.  Her husband died in 1994, at the age of 32.  She became the sole supporter of her children, sent them all through school, and is now a proud grandmother living in her own home she built herself.

Milcah learned to paint at the Weya Community Training Center in 1988.  She moved to Harare in February 1998, to paint on hand-thrown pottery at Ros Byrne Pottery.  She says she moved to the city because every week there was money,” thus enabling her to “give my children a better life.”

Title: Chakadini Water Pump
Artist: Shelton Shavi
Size: approx 12.5″w x 12.5″h
Zimbabwe Weya Art hand painted wooden tray, folk art
Cost: $60 – includes free shipping in the continental U.S.

The piece includes the hand written story by the artist and his bio on the back.

The Story:

A group of boys and girls gathered together at Chakadiui water pump washing their clothes at the water pump.  Chipo and Tara are pumping water from the water pump while Rugare is coming carrying a dish to the water pump to wash clothes.  Tambudzai is going back home carrying a clay pot of water on her head.

Chamumorwa is pushing a wheelbarrow with dirty clothes to be washed.  Two girls are washing their clothes.  Sekai and Samy are putting the clothes in dish to take them back home.  Tara is pushing a wheelbarrow carrying buckets of water.

Artist Bio:

Shelton was born in Epworth, outside of Harare, in 1982, one of seven children.  He went through the equivalent of 9th grade, stopping because the family had no money to pay school fees.  He came to Weya in 2000 because life was difficult in the city.  He stays with his aunt and helps her with agriculture, but it is not fulfilling work and provides him with no money.  He began to study painting with his half-sister, artist Alletah Chehore, in 2002.  “Art was my best subject when I was in school and I want to make some money.”