Zambia: Implosion for Explosion

Contemporary Artists from Zambia

Zambia: Implosion for Explosion (2014) by Contemporary Artists from ZambiaImago Mundi








Art in
Southern Zambia 


The Southern Province has a history of excellent craftsmanship. The Tonga women are renowned for their basket weaving and other traditional craftwork includes drum-making, wood carving, pottery and beading. 

Anchored Hopes and Dreams, Alumedi Vincent Maonde, 2014, From the collection of: Imago Mundi
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Anchored Hopes and Dreams (2014) by Alumedi Vincent Maonde

Some eminent artists from the province include Ranford Sililo, whose murals and wood carvings may be seen at the Livingstone Museum; Stephen Kappata, an internationally acclaimed painter working in the naïve artistic tradition who provides social commentary of contemporary and historical life in Zambia and who moved to Livingstone from the Western Province a few years before he died in 2007; and Vincent Maonde, whose oil paintings represent traditional village life.

Queen’s Portrait, Chifuchi F. Kandala, 2014, From the collection of: Imago Mundi
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Queen’s Portrait (2014)
by Chifuchi F. Kandala


In the 1970s and 80s Maonde, then Chief Technical Officer at the Livingstone Museum in Livingstone, ran an art
club there. Notable members included Remmy Sichalwe (who trained in Florence, Italy), Chansa Chishimba, Ranford Sililo, Milliot Ngoma and Mwila Kamangu. A number of craftsmen (weavers and carvers) and art teachers also participated in the club’s activities.

Women Vendors, Danny Chiyesu, 2014, From the collection of: Imago Mundi
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Women Vendors (2014) by Danny Chiyesu

After the establishment of the Zambia National Visual Arts Council (VAC) in Lusaka in 1990, a Southern Province Branch was formed in 1991. It used to meet at the Livingstone Museum. Some of the artists who joined were Thomas Mulele, Chiinga Siavwapa, Danny Hangoma, Chayi Mulola and Suse Kasokota. Others followed, like Derrick Nansandu, Evans Chikwete, Namiye Sianga, Anawana Haloba, Mutale Kalinosi and Fewdays Chongo. A number of them then proceeded to study at Evelyn Hone or other colleges with the support and the encouragement of the Visual Arts Council.

The Music Man, Davis Sichinsambwe, 2014, From the collection of: Imago Mundi
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The Music Man (2014) by Davis Sichinsambwe

From 1992 VAC started exhibiting at Maramba Cultural Village, which gradually led to an increase in membership. In the late 1990s VAC acquired a plot of land next to the Livingstone Showgrounds. Thanks to funding from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) a building was constructed and officially opened in 2005, to house art residency programs. In 2013 the government began constructing an art gallery of international standard on the same land, which is now nearing completion. This will be the first government- owned art gallery in the country.

African Sunset, Eugene Linyama, 2014, From the collection of: Imago Mundi
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African Sunset (2014)
by Eugene Linyama

Over the years the Visual Arts Council has organized skill training workshops and exhibitions for local artists at various venues in Livingstone, including the Livingstone Museum, the Zambezi Sun Hotel, the Natural Mystic Lodge and the Falls Park Shopping Mall.

Likishi Mask, Gertrude Namukanga, 2014, From the collection of: Imago Mundi
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Likishi Mask (2014) by Gertrude Namukanga

Over the last ten years or so a number of private art galleries and studios have sprung up in Livingstone. These include Wayi Wayi Art Studio and Gallery, run by the artist couple Agnes and Lawrence Yombwe. In addition to displaying works of various Zambian artists, the gallery runs short workshops to teach various artistic skills and art clubs for children. There are also several young apprentices who work in the studio. The Yombwes are currently constructing rooms to house artists for residency programs.

Midas Touch, Gladys M. Kalichini, 2014, From the collection of: Imago Mundi
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Midas Touch (2014) by Gladys M. Kalichini

Mosi-o-Tunya Art Gallery, an open-air art gallery, is run by a group of artists headed by Bernad Kopeka. Others include Samuel Mpande, Sydney Nyeleti and Alumedi Maonde, who are painters, and Chabu Chisenga, who creates village and river scenes from banana leaves. Some sculptors also work with them. Peter Mtonga, who moved to Livingstone from the Copperbelt Province in 2010, later started his own open-air gallery to display his own finger-millet mosaics and paintings by the roadside. Over the years the gallery has expanded to become the Mtonga Art Center it is now a shelter that its founder shares with other artists.

Nsalu Caves, Sr. Constatia Treppe Op, 2014, From the collection of: Imago Mundi
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Nsalu Caves (2014)
by Sr. Constatia Treppe Op

King, Isaac Manda, 2014, From the collection of: Imago Mundi
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King (2014)
by Isaac Manda

Mukuni Park and Victoria Falls Craft Markets sell arts and crafts from other African countries but they also host the production of local artists such as Kelvin Muyumbana and Augustine Sikambala, who target the tourist craft market to sell their works. Most Zambian crafts being sold at these markets are produced in nearby villages, like the Mukuni Village, and comprise mainly wood carvings.

Yes She Can, Lombe Nsama, 2014, From the collection of: Imago Mundi
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Yes She Can (2014)
by Lombe Nsama


Artist Elaine Danckwerts started the Kalomo-Choma (“Kalcho”) art group in 1993, encouraging farmer’s wives to get involved in watercolor painting as a pastime. The group has expanded over the years and it now includes renowned artists such as Eva Middleton and Tamryn Pohl. Most group members paint local landscapes
and wildlife scenes and the group often exhibits at the Choma Museum and Crafts Centre, which has done much to promote art in the Province.

African Village, Sisa Chadwick, 2014, From the collection of: Imago Mundi
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African Village (2014)
by Sisa Chadwick

Nalikwanda (Royal Barge of the Lozi King), Matthew Mudenda, 2014, From the collection of: Imago Mundi
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Nalikwanda (Royal Barge of the Lozi King) (2014) by Matthew Mudenda

Patrick Mweemba, printmaker and former Director of the Mpapa Gallery in Lusaka, moved to Choma with his wife Esnart and became attached to the Choma Museum and Craft Center. Esnart Mweemba was involved in training local craftswomen in basketry, batik, tie-and-dye and bead jewelry. The Mweembas have now opened their own gallery just north of Choma. Kalumbwa Chungu, also based in Choma, does batik appliqué work, which he markets through the Choma and Livingstone Museums. Gijsbert Witkamp, another printmaker, has been instrumental in coordinating craftspeople and artists in Choma and organizing exhibitions through the Choma Museum and Crafts Centre.

Tribal Woman, Paul Banda, 2014, From the collection of: Imago Mundi
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Tribal Woman (2014)
by Paul Banda

My Future Extended Family, N’gandwe Mwaba, 2014, From the collection of: Imago Mundi
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My Future Extended Family (2014) by N’gandwe Mwaba

He has also been involved in the international marketing of local crafts such as baskets in collaboration with the Choma Museum and Crafts Centre. Golden Tila, who specializes in painting wildlife and village scenes, runs an open-air gallery in Monze. Mazabuka hosts artists such as the well-known wildlife artist Alison Street, while the Musikili Primary School in Mazabuka hosts an annual exhibition and auction that has become a major art event in Zambia.

Clare Whitehead Mateke Secretary of the Zambia National Visual Arts Council, Southern Province Branch

Drum Beat Hour, Winsto Chola Chilumba, 2014, From the collection of: Imago Mundi
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Drum Beat Hour (2014)
by Winsto Chola Chilumba

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

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