The organisers of the recently-held Mitupo Exhibition, Chitungwiza Publicity Association (CPA), said the event was designed to celebrate the cultural diversity and unity of people residing in Chitungwiza and beyond.
Mutupo is a Shona word for totem, a name usually associated with a particular animal or body part that various clans or tribes use to define and describe their origins and values.
The Mitupo open-air exhibition was held from January 23 to 27 at the Makoni Shopping Centre in the dormitory town of Chitungwiza.
It featured several artefacts such as animal portraits, boutique paintings including moulds, found objects and carvings.
CPA chief executive officer Lexy Mrewa told NewsDay Life & Style that the exhibitions help people to tell their own stories about their origins, identity and relations.
“Through this annual Mitupo Exhibition which runs in the last week of January we have managed to identify close to 30 totems found in Chitungwiza. Every totem has a chidao or chidawo which refers to a praise name identifying a sub-clan,” he said.
“Africans should stick to their identities, and this shall help the world to fully appreciate the cultural diversity found in Zimbabwe and Africa at large.”
DK Tours and Safaris, which sponsored the best exhibitor prize, hailed the exhibition as highly supportive of the local tourism industry.
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“In Zimbabwe the greater part of tourism is dominated by those who desire to see the wildlife and animal diversity of the nation. In this case totems help in keeping animal names memorable,” said Brighton John Musaidzi, DK Tours and Safaris marketing manager.
“I do think that tourism travelling is highly inspired by the animal kingdom. In future we hope to see more people travelling to attend the Mitupo Exhibition in Chitungwiza.”
Some of the artists who participated at the exhibition described it as a platform that enlightens people about the importance of re-establishing and recalling cultural values.
Visual artist Artwell Chipiri, who is popular for stunning cultural creative works, said people could not live without restrictions and taboos.
“Taboos and totems help in locating people’s origins and their treasured values. Also, totems and taboos help families to maintain good ties including shunning toxic habits such as incest and sexual abuse,” he said.
“People with the same totem are not allowed to marry or date each other. Instead, they must relate as brothers or sisters.”
Visual artist-cum-chairperson of Chitungwiza Arts Centre, Kennedy Zano said Mitupo Exhibition had helped in popularising the creative works found in Chitungwiza.
“Most people order sculptures to beautify their homes, as they do so, they should take pride in beautifying their homes with animal stone art. This type of art links people to the need for wildlife preservation and prevention against cruelty to animals,” he said.
Fabric artist Rufaro Mamombe, whose decorations dominated the exhibition, said people could dress up and design their homes around a form of creativity that emanates from their totems.
“I was taught this artistry by my mother Faith Machingura to sustain my family. My portraits and frames were very popular for the children’s Continuous Assessment Learning Activities in schools where the pupils were taught how to write their own family histories,” she said.
Lydia Mugadzauta said her animal totem drawings and picture frames had been popularised by some primary schoolchildren who on several occasions would be asked to bring their totem praise poems by teachers to recite for their classmates.
Another visual artist Alfred Mutuke, who carves seasonal birds, believes that totems unite people through knowing their origins and family trees.
