Born out of a desire to share and celebrate my Zimbabwean cultural heritage as a person of dual citizenship raising third-culture children in Aotearoa, Kumusha seeks to bring together two seemingly disconnected worlds through art. Kumusha means ‘homeland’ in Shona, my mother tongue, and is about connection, belonging, and identity.
In sharing my cultural heritage with other New Zealanders through art, Kumusha recognises the Shona version of Ubuntu, ‘Hunhu‘, which means
‘I am because you are’.
We are all connected, and we all belong to each other. Kumusha is about our connection and belonging to each other through art. Kumusha is the Shona equivalent of Turangawae wae, the place where we stand. My hope and desire are that as I share my cultural heritage, others will find pieces that resonate with their own identity and heritage, thus connecting us further. At Kumusha, we seek to connect two worlds through art. To promote a shared sense of belonging to each other and our homes, and to foster a love and appreciation of African art and culture.
Hand-carved Shona stone sculptures are an integral part of Zimbabwean culture due to one of the largest stone reserves in the world and a unique artistic tradition of stone carving. Zimbabwe means the Great House of Stone, in Shona and is named after the Great Zimbabwe Settlement, an 11-15th century city in Southern Zimbabwe. The nearly eighty-acre city was constructed from carved stone and housed up to 18,000 people at its height. Now a world heritage site, the city demonstrates the historic skill and innovation of the Shona tribe.
Come home with us.
Our logo is of the acacia tree. A quintessential symbol for us of the African Savannah. Never do we feel more connected with Africa and Zimbabwe, than when we are driving across open grasslands with acacia dotted across the landscape, the wide-open spaces, promising endless possibilities, freedom and self-discovery. Our logo is clean, simple and timeless, speaking for itself. Because we want our art to be timeless andself-defining, interpreted by you. We want our brand and art to simultaneously foster a sense of endless possibilities, and nostalgia, like the savannah.
At Kumusha, we work closely with our artists and support emerging African artists by buying their products at a fair price and connecting them with the wider world. Our current primary artist is a young man with a young family like ours. Our pieces come with a short bio of the artist, connecting you, the buyer, with the artist. We will be working with women from former refugee backgrounds in Christchurch, New Zealand to create handmade crafts. We aim to support these women (and their families) as they build new lives and regain social and economic independence in their new home in Aotearoa. By creating a space for connection and creativity, Kumusha aims to promote a sense of community and belonging.
Our sculptures are made mostly of stone from the geological family, Serpentine, which is both sedimentary and metamorphic. This hardstone is mined in small, open-cast, natural quarries by the artists themselves or locals, making little ecological impact, and providing an important source of income for communities. Colours range from yellow and green, through brown to black, and include black springstone, dark green opalstone, a yellow/green leopard rock, white dolomite, and purple cobalt. Springstone and leopard rock are the hardest varieties. Dense with fine grains and uniform structuremaking them ideal for sculpting. Our handmade craft products are made here in New Zealand with materials from Southern Africa and New Zealand.
