The Shona Story: The People and the Sculptures.
The art of Shona stone carving is deeply rooted in the history, spirit and culture of Zimbabwe. To understand these beautiful sculptures, one must first understand the people who create them - The Shona people, their traditions, their history and their extraordinary connection to stone.
WHO ARE THE SHONA PEOPLE?
The Shona people are the largest ethnic group in Zimbabwe, making up over 70% of the country's population. They have a long and rich history, with roots stretching back more than a thousand years.
Historically, the Shona were farmers, herders and skilled traders. They lived in organised communities and built complex societies marked by advanced stone architecture, agriculture and trade networks. The Shona were also deeply spiritual, believing in the interconnectedness of all life - with ancestors, nature and spirit all forming a sacred web.
One of the most famous historical legacies of the Shona people is the ancient city of Great Zimbabwe, built between the 11th and 15th centuries. Great Zimbabwe, whose stone ruins still stand today, was once a thriving metropolis and trading hub. It shows the Shona's early mastery of stone - not only for practical use but also as a powerful symbol of culture and spiritual meaning.
THE SPIRITUAL HEART OF THE SHONA
Spirituality has alway been central to Shona life. Traditionally, the Shona believe in Mwari, a supreme being, and maintain strong ties to ancestral spirits known as Vadzimu. These spirits are revered and regularly honoured through rituals, ceremonies, music and art.
For the Shona, the spirit world is not distant; it is present, active and woven into the rhythms of daily life. Nature itself - rivers, trees, stones - are seen as alive with spiritual energy. It is within this worldview that the tradition of stone carving finds its spiritual home.
THE ORIGINS OF SHONA SCULPTURES
Although the Shona people have a long history of working with stone, the tradition of the fine art stone sculpture as we know it today - began more recently around the mid-20th century.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, a remarkable artistic movement was born in Zimbabwe (then called Southern Rhodesia). At that time, an art advocate named Frank McEwan, who had worked with the Musée Rodin in Paris, arrived in Harare (then Salisbury) to become the founding director of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.
McEwan recognised the creative potential of local artists and encouraged them to use indigenous materials - especially stone - to express their cultural identity. He believed that by tapping into their own heritage, rather than copying European styles, Zimbabwean artists could create something truly unique and powerful.
And they did.
Artists like Joram Mariga, often called "the Father of Zimbabwean stone sculpture," began carving expressive and deeply spiritual forms out of serpentine and other local stones. Other early pioneers such as Henry Munyaradzi, Nicholas Mukomberanwa, Bernard Matemera and John Takawira, soon followed, each developing their own distinctive style.
By the 1970s, Shona Sculpture had gained international recognition, with exhibitions in London, Paris and New York. Art lovers were drawn to the sculptures emotional intensity, elegant simplicity and the profound sense of spirit they conveyed.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Most Shona sculptures are carved from locally sourced stones such as:
Serpentine: A dense, fine-grained stone with beautiful colour variations.
Springstone: A type of hard serpentine, prized for its deep, rich black finish.
Opal Stone: A softer stone, often pale green or creamy in colour.
Cobalt Stone: A beautiful, colourful stone containing hues of green, yellow and sometimes purple.
Artists typically use traditional hand tools - chisels, hammers and rasps - and allow the stone itself to guide their creative process. Many speak of deep, intuitive connection with the stone, feeling that the form already exists within it and is just waiting to be revealed.
Themes often include family, spiritual beings, ancestral spirits, nature and daily life. Abstract forms and symbolic figures are common, reflecting the idea that the sculptures are not mean to be literal but are windows into the unseen world.
The carving process is both physically demanding and deeply meditative. Artists work slowly and carefully, respecting the stone's natural properties and seeking harmony between form and spirit.
THE SHONA SCULPTURE TODAY
Today, Shona Sculptures are celebrated as one of the most important contemporary art movements to emerge from Africa in the 20th century.
While the first generation of Shona Sculptors has largely passed on, their legacy continues through new generations of artists. Families often pass carving techniques down through the generations, keeping the spirit and skill alive. Artists continue to work independently or in cooperative workshops, many still based in the beautiful rural areas of Zimbabwe.
Shone Sculptures are displayed in galleries and museums around the world and are highly sought after by collectors for their spiritual depth, raw beauty and emotional power. Yet despite this international fame, each piece remains profoundly connected to Zimbabwean soil - both literally and spiritually.
The sculptures embody resilience, faith, creativity and the enduring human spirit - universal themes that resonate across both cultures and continents.
WHY SHONA SCULPTURES RESONATE
In today's fast-paced, modern world, Shona Sculptures offer a powerful reminder to slow down, listen and reconnect with something deeper.
Each piece invites reflection, offering a silent but profound conversation between artist, stone, spirit and viewer. Their organic shapes, flowing lines and soulful energy seem to whisper of a world beyond words - a world where spirit and matter aren't seperate, but instead one and the same.
Whether placed in a home, garden or sacred space, Shona Sculptures have the ability to ground, to inspire and to connect us both back with Earth and ourselves.
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The story of the Shona Sculpture is a story of endurance, creativity and spirit. It is a story of people who have long understood the sacredness of stone - not just as a material, but as a living presence.
When you hold or behold a Shona Sculpture, you are holding a piece of this story. You are connecting to a rich tradition that honours the Earth, the Ancestors and the unseen worlds within and beyond us.
At Surrendering to Stones, it is our honour to share these incredible works with you. We hope that as you explore them, you too will feel the deep spirit of Zimbabwe, the wisdom of the Shona people and the timeless beauty held within stone.
