SOUTHERN Africa Political Economy Series (Sapes) Trust director Ibbo Mandaza yesterday launched an exhibition of African sculptors and portraits to relaunch his Pan African Restaurant in Harare.
The three-month exhibition is running under the theme Essence of Africa: Visionaries, Voices, Culinary and Cultural.
During the exhibition, artists will be showcasing African sculptures, portraiture of influential leaders, nature and wildlife paintings, and various culinary flavours of Africa.
“This multisensory exhibition celebrates the artistic expressions and cultural legacies that have shaped the Pan African movement,” Mandaza told Standard People.
“We really wanted to relaunch the Pan Afrika Restaurant as a space that celebrates creativity and culture and what better way to do it than celebrating some of Harares most talented visual artists.
“Pan Afrika has always been a space that promotes the creative and cultural sector and this exhibition will showcase the versatility of the space as not only a restaurant but as a cultural hub.”
Mandaza said Pan Afrika wanted to promote the correlation between different creative and cultural experiences.
“The exhibition is happening now because we are in the events' season in Zimbabwe where many people are looking for different cultural experiences,” he said.
“It will run for three months and all pieces will be for sale so the artists will benefit financially from the exhibition.”
He said the exhibition is a celebration of Africa's ‘visionaries past and present.’
“We are in a time where there is a lot of change happening in Africa and now is the time for us to forget our borders and unite and change the narrative of Africa being a poor continent but a continent that is rich in culture, creativity and resources.”