Zacharia Mukwira (sources shorten his name to both Zack and Zach, but I will be using Zach) was born in Makonde, Zimbabwe in 1968 and currently lives in the Western Cape. Early in his life, Zach studied visual art, as well as movement, dance, theatre, and drama, showcasing his wide array of creative interests and skills. Mukwira is a practicing artist and educator (teaching drama, spoken word, and visual art at special needs institutions).
He draws inspiration from African stories, folklore, myths, legends, and oral histories passed down from friends and families and various other peers. Zach aims to weave and incorporate these stories into everyday life situations and the people that he encounters daily. He also, via his teaching, intends to promote African storytelling for innumerable individuals. Many of the stories that inspired Zach were told to him by his Zambian grandmother, and he sees himself as giving a visual representation to many of these spoken and spiritual stories (artist’s website). Ndiza Gallery owner Michele Roelofsen says that Mukwira’s work is “distinctly African” and that “as Africans we need to retain our stories.” Mukwira does exactly that–and then some.
Zach was the “New Signatures” Competition First Prize Winner in 2014 and has had numerous exhibitions (sourced from the artists website). He is personally pleased that 30 of his works were commissioned by a South African restaurant group to be used in their various locations. Zach is known to say “think lucky–if you fall into a river, check your pockets for fish.”
Leave a Reply