The Gidi (Gun) Uprising

Mbuya Nehanda played a major role in the liberation of Zimbabwe thus to me, her statue is more or less like the famous Statue of liberty with just a few missing features. The artwork spots Mbuya Nehanda from a lower angle standing on a pile of rifle guns. In her right hand is a rifle depicting the famous “tora gidi” song. She is clothed in “jira reretso” and some traditional beaded necklace and golden anklets. With her in crowds are the people of Zimbabwe fighting for their freedom in guns and spears. On the background in white text are repetitions of war liberation songs such as “tora gidi uzvitonge” and “gidi chete gidi”.

Nyakasikana

This artwork tries to explore Mbuya Nehanda’s human and colourful side. Most depictions of her are in a blurry black and white which make her appear quite unapproachable and very ancient. I believe this is all wrong. Around that time the Shona culture was thriving and people wore traditional clothing and jewelery. The artwork spots Mbuya Nehanda in a colourful traditional bead necklace and one of the traditional clothing which is still worn today. The cloth is known as  “jira reretso” was sometimes worn by spirit mediums or traditional healers along with others like rehanga etc. Also on the artwork Mbuya Nehanda’s form as well as the background of the art work is made from text which entails on her history of who she was as well as stories of how she conquered the whites during the war.