Mrs. Charanga is coming from fetching firewood. Chenai is coming from fetching firewood. Mrs. Chenai is washing  clothes. Mrs. Honda and Mrs. Marugu are pounding rapoko (millet). Mrs. Rwanda is playing with the baby. Mrs. Chirara is cooking sadza. Mr. Tawengwa is carving a stick for porridge, and a table. Mrs. Saruwa is sweeping the yard. Mrs. Zambara is weeding vegetables. Mrs. Maruta is serving rapoko. Tapiwa is playing with the ball. Mrs. Chigogo is grinding rapoko. 

 

ARTIST BIO: 

Beauty was born in 1969. She has three teenage children. She learned to paint in 1988. “I paint because it helps me  with house costs: soap, school fees for children and other household expenses. I got married with a man who  wasn’t formally trained (as a builder) and who isn’t regularly employed. I need to help the family.” “I want  Americans to know that I am a woman who works hard. I would like to see what women in other countries do –  are they hardworking like me? I am proud that my children go to school properly dressed and they have enough to  eat because of my hard work.” Her favorite subjects include village life and weddings.

 

 

 

BIRDS OF AFRICA

By VERONICA CHITSIKE 

Fabric painting S 3392

 

One saddle-billed stork is drinking water while the other one is standing in the water. They are  found in Africa. (S 3392) 

 

ARTSIT BIO: 

Veronica was born in 1959. She came to Weya in 1982 as the second wife of her husband. She has three children,  ages 9 to 19. She learned how to create art in 1988. She felt it was a thing she could do as a woman, and she  needed money. “I am a full-time housewife who looks after children, fetches firewood, does plowing, herds cattle and takes them to the dipping tank. I have quite a lot of work.” She has time for her artwork during the rainy season only on weekends, with more time available during the dry season. Her favorite topics are wild animals (“baboons who live here in this place”) and village life.  

 

 

 

 

Waual, here is the exact fruit tree which I was looking for, the muzhange (Uapaca kirkiana) tree,” said Mrs. 

Mungure. “Are we going to pick-up some mushrooms first or fetch some firewood,” asked Mrs. Jowa sitting on a  stone. “I think we will fetch the firewood first and the mushrooms later,” replied Mrs. Shonge. “My children are 

about to come back from school so let me prepare lunch for them,” said Mrs. Chakwenya. Mrs. Paradza is carrying  her bundle of firewood on her head and is going home. (A 3118) 

 

ARTIST BIO: 

Sarudzai was born in 1972, the youngest of eight children. She attended school through the equivalent of 10th grade after which family financial constraints kept her from going further. She was married four years after  leaving school and has three children. She lives with her husband and children in Gokwe in central Zimbabwe. Sarudzai learned to do appliqué from her sister, Orpah Mungure, in 1990. She makes art to help with family expenses. Her favorite topics include lovers, village life and “at the market.”

 

Update, December 2013:  
To the Congregation: This is a tribute to the Website Committee of our church using a recent happening as inspiration. The committee worked hard to include the Zimbabwe art show pieces in the monthly presentation on our new website. It was seen by the editor of a widely read spiritual newsletter in the state of Washington who contacted our church in order to use one of the images featuring a village working together to benefit their way of life. The art committee sought the OK from the Zimbabwe artist, got it, and the circle was complete: Artists in Africa reaching out to Unitarian Universalists reaching out to the wider world and successfully connecting with cooperation, respect and peace. Thank you, Website Committee!

— Beverly Alison