Titambire; Welcome.
My name is Chaka Chikodzi. My small business, Africville, is the only Indigenous Zimbabwean owned and operated sculpture business in North America. I was born and raised in Zimbabwe, and moved to Canada in 2001. I have been a sculptor since I was thirteen years old, when I learned how to sculpt by watching my older brother.
What is Africville?
Africville produces Zimbabwean Stone sculpture exhibitions throughout Canada. We are unique because of our perspective, being the only Zimbabwean sculptor to represent the work in North America. Most of our shows take place during the summer months, where we exhibit under the summer sky on farms, in parks and in neighbourhoods. Our events are dynamic, often including live African music, traditional food and the unique opportunity to wander through an ever-incredible collection of contemporary Zimbabwe sculpture.
We named our business 'Africville' in honour of the infamous Africville community in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The sense of family, continuity and community associated with Africville is the spirit we would like to celebrate and honour, as it is a story of survival that is inspiring and dynamic.
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Zimbabwean stone sculpture is often referred to as "Shona sculpture"after the main tribe in Zimbabwe. It is fitting that Zimbabwe's name is derived from the Shona phrase "dzimba dzamabwe", meaning 'house of stone'. Stone sculpting became commercialized in the 50's and has since become internationally renowned as one of the most important arts' movements from Africa.
