BENJAMIN MUNDARA

SHONA MASTER

Benjamin Mundara is a second generation Shona Master. Benjamin was born in a hospital in Masvingo near Great Zimbabwe in 1966. He spent his early childhood traveling between Harare where his father was working and Masvingo. He attended primary and secondary schools in the rural area before leaving to seek opportunity in the city.

Benjamin tried his hand at several jobs in Masvingo before visiting his late brother Gladman Zinyeka, a first generation world renowned Shona Master, in 1990. Gladman gave support and assistance to Benjamin in several ways. Gladman gave Benjamin a place to stay and gave him a job. Eventually, Gladman taught Benjamin the theory and practical aspects of stone carving. Benjamin spent 1990-1993 studying under Gladman before venturing on his own.

Benjamin made a smooth transition to stone carving because he was also a skilled artist, who started drawing since three years old. He credits the development of his drawing skills to the teachers in grade 1 who forced each student to draw his/her father. His first most memorable sculpture is “Shy Lady”, which he carved while studying under Gladman in 1992.

Benjamin sculpts primarily abstracts, which enables him to express his inspiration. His sculptures express love, how we live, how life goes on, how development is happening in Africa, and Shona culture. Benjamin believes that Africans must rely on their culture. Benjamin proclaimed in a March 2004 interview that “you need to give time to communicate with the spirit of the stone in order to use the whole stone.” Benjamin is not the type of artist that spends 1-3 days carving a sculpture in order to turn around and sell it quickly.

Benjamin works on several of the hardest stones such as Opal, Cobalt, Verdite, Fruit Serpentine, and Springstone. Benjamin examines each stone for its hardness and color. Using his art to expand both local awareness and international exposure of Shona art, Benjamin wants to show fellow Zimbabweans that stone carving is a good thing that can provide a living.

Benjamin titles his pieces with names that teach and give people another type of courage, because as he explains it, “if a stone can have a title like ‘hold on to life’, people can look at it and say if the stone can hold on to life, then why not me?” Benjamin has begun the training and apprenticeships within his own family by teaching his wife, younger brother, younger brother’s wife, and two of his sons.