Among an exploding number of festivals in Harare, Chapungu Sculpture Park has jumped into the fray with the lyrically titled Tones and Stones Music Festival.
The venue is an internationally renowned location on Doon Estate, along Harrow Road in Msasa.
It has a selling point for being a historical site that for decades was known for the promotion of Stone Sculptors from Zimbabwe, through worldwide exhibitions, documentation, workshops, preservation and sales.
Just twenty minutes away from the CBD, Chapungu feels like a long distance from the madding crowd in the streets of Harare
Its serene environment is a sanctuary from the constant humdrum, and pollution in the city. The rolling green grass and tree line is a sight for sore eyes.
Sculptures displayed in the outdoor museum take many forms between man,plant, and animal.
Their stillness induces calm and contemplation.
Like many Zimbabweans who have stayed in the country long enough Chapungu has experienced the vicissitudes of fate that swings on an arch like a pendulum.
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At its worst moment it became like an abandoned mansion with its gates entangled with creeping plants and the driveway overgrown with long grass.
This happened after the Stone Sculpture movement lost its momentum due to declining standards caused by greed, overcommercialisation, and overwhelming production of kitsch.
The situation was exacerbated by national economic decline, political instability, and more recently the Covid-19 pandemic.
The fate of Chapungu’s declining fortunes was also affected by the long illness and recent bereavement of its proprietor Roy Guthrie who founded the cultural institution in 1980.
Guthrie who died at the age of 89 in March this year, is survived by his widow and co-director Marcellina Mushore.
Mushore is a mbira player of note. She is counted among female musicians credited with taking mbira music to the international stage together with Stella Chiweshe, Beulah Dyoko, Chiwoniso Maraire, and others. One might say that a movement which lost its soul due to commercialisation and greed is now being led by a mbira priestess.
Tones and Stones brings a new lease of life to Chapungu. The family friendly festival is an eye opener for non-revellers who might have lost faith in their own capacity to cut loose and have fun.
It is like therapy for those that have struggled to fit in and thought they were doomed to a life of exclusion from society.
Dubbed ‘A Musical, Culinary Sculpture Experience’ the festival creates a sense of community around a Zimbabwe cuisine prepared by celebrity chef Tafadzwa ‘’De Ankarra’’ Anifas.
As the traditional Shona saying goes “Ukama igasva, hunozadzikiswa nokudya.’’ Which means relationships are a half full vessel that overflows by sharing a meal.
Even when most of the guests were strangers who might have just met on Harrow Road, the crowd felt like a large gathering with multiracial extended family.
DeAnkarra rose to the occasion by serving Goat Seswaa on a beetroot baguette, Chicken Dust and Sorghum, Hibiscus Taco, and a dessert of Hacha Nut Sponge with a Baobab Ice-cream and Hibiscus Syrup.
His inventive recipes were inspired by the Tswana, South African, and Mexican dishes to provide a sensory delight of a different kind.
Musical director Kundisai Mtero lined up Zimspiration Choir (featuring Soloists: Mitchel Mvundura, Munashe Chavhunduka, Rodgers Gwatidzo, Soothe Music). Other musical acts included were, African Voice, Worae In Motion, Mimhanzi, Zicky Wacho, The Basics, Evicted, and Classical Combo (featuring Pianist Guncha Hojanepesova, Pianist Marianne Beck-Volts, Flautist Gulnara Machingura, Violinist Sarah Pierce) Afro-rock band Evicted playing Changes in Time (Mvura Yonaya) near the end of their set left the crowd chanting the chorus after the band finished its song.
Zimspiration’s rousing performance of the Italian classical pieces ‘Nessun dorma’ and ‘Con te partirò’ brought the audience to a standstill.
The soloists transporting vocal powers stunned the audience into motionless awe, mirroring the surrounding sculptures.
For once the inanimate objects of art around the park appeared to be listening too.
Mimhanzi brought the audience back on its dancing feet as they played covers from familiar Afro jazz maestros that included hits by Hugh Masekela and Abdulah Ibrahim.
At Tones and Stones art becomes part of a lived experience instead of mere spectacle.
Bringing someone to this intimate, multi-sensory stimulating event might already mean something, but affirmation though song reinforces the bond as the choir sings in Italian:
Tu, mia luna, tu sei qui con me.
Mio sole, tu sei qui con me, Con me, con me, con me.
(You, my moon, you are here with me.
My sun, you are here with me, With me, with me, with me.)
About reviewer
Nyadzombe Nyampenza is an art critic, photographer, and conceptual artist. In 2023 he was the Nama recipient for outstanding journalist (Print). He was awarded second prize at the Zimbabwe Annual Art Exhibition (2016), and represented Zimbabwe at BamakoEncounters (Photography Biennale) in Mali (2015). Nyadzombe was the 2020 fellow at Apex Art, in New York City. He is passionate about non-fiction creative writing and his ambition is to raise public awareness about visual arts from Zimbabwe through engaging, accessible, critical, and entertaining narratives.
Are you a reviewer? Email khumbulani@heartandsoul.co.zw
