TENGENENGE Art Community, situated some 150km north of Harare in Guruve, has indeed stood the test of time that it is about time government, in particular, engaged the arts centre to help it continue to attract both local and international visitors.
At present, about 150 artists are active at Tengenenge and many others are living with their families in the Tengenenge village, with even more living and working elsewhere, but bringing their sculptures to the arts centre for sale.
Award-winning stone sculptor Agrippa Tirigu told NewsDay Life & Style that Tengenenge is known for its diverse art creativity and has been a place for work, tourism advancement and societal union among other important linkages.
“Since Tengenenge Art Community’s inception by the late Tom Bloomfield in 1966, the centre has exposed multifaceted roles of the arts in the community. Various artforms housed at Tengenenge such as music, dance and sculpturing have been very purposeful in building bridges between people, cultures and generations,” he noted.
“Bloomfield visualised that arts could transform the Guruve society through initiating conversations, challenging perceptions, inspiring change, and creating empathy. In light of this he shelved his passion for farming and invested in the Tengenenge Art Community.”
Tirigu, who is also the marketer for Tengenenge Art Community, said the centre had over 100 talented artists able to express their sentiments, ideas and emotions in formidable ways.
“The Tengenenge Art Community has united people through the various denominations such as Johanne Masowe Nyenyedzi Nomwe, Mudzimu Unoyera (Mukaera/Mukaera), Salvation Army, African Apostolic Church (Paul Mwazha) and the Heart of Faith Ministries who come to worship and preach the word of God,” he revealed.
“This alone has helped people to think differently and explore new possibilities, especially in this economy which needs a more proactive approach than just watching. The sculpture works exhibited in the gardens have been used to bring attention to social issues and to inspire change.”
Tirigu continued: “We used to have serious problems of substance abuse, especially by the youth and now most of the youth are engaging in meaningful activities.”
He said Tengenenge Art Community was in need of a facelift.
“In order to keep our multi-purpose Tengenenge Arts Community in its best appealing form, we need either a precast wall or a net fence to keep cattle and tresspassers away. Our challenges continue to accumulate and to begin with, the road network that leads people to the centre is in a state of shame,” he explained.
“On the issue of the farm animals, it is still a problem since cattle owned by farmers close to us break our sculptures during the night.”
Tirigu bemoaned the high duty which the artists are charged to import tools.
“Importing sculpting tools remains a major challenge since they are only manufactured outside the country, so we appeal to the authorities, if possible, exempt duty fees for us,” he said.
Tengenenge has over the years nurtured and produced fine sculptors in the mould of the late Misheck Mubayi, father to award-winning Sylvester Mubayi, now based at the Chitungwiza Arts Centre.
To date, Tengenenge boasts accomplished artists like Douglas Shau, Phineas Leon, Gift Bangura, Cosmas Chifamba, Watson Chirume, Zakeyo Chanikaya, Jealous Chatsama, Betias Chakawa, Dickson Dickson and Cosmas Chingondi, among others.
