Mapiti
The Mapiti Experience – A Sculpted Tribute to Zimbabwe
Our Mapiti collection was created around the powerful works of renowned Zimbabwean sculptor Sampson Kuvenguhwa. His signature style—rooted in everyday life, spiritual themes, and contemporary African identity—forms the heart of this unique sculptural experience. To honor his vision, we expanded the collection by integrating other selected Zimbabwean sculptures, many of unknown artists, to build an evocative bush and village setting that reflects the soul of Zimbabwe.
The result is more than a sculpture display—it is an immersive journey through rural Zimbabwe. The village scene, composed of over 90% of carvings by Sam himself, features traditional life in motion: people, animals, and spiritual figures coexisting in harmony. You’ll find powerful busts, detailed wildlife carvings, and rare wooden sculptures rescued from areas such as Mutare and Victoria Falls.
While most of the sculptures are in the Shona tradition—including Karanga, Zezuru, Korekore, and Manyika—Zimbabwe is a diverse nation, and about 20% of the population is Ndebele. We therefore embrace the broader Zimbabwean identity in describing this collection. The rich influence of Great Zimbabwe and Shona mythology can also be seen in many of the pieces, continuing a legacy of storytelling through stone and wood.
To complement the sculptures, we have added vibrant paintings by Barry Lungu. His works offer a vivid and honest portrayal of life as it really is in Zimbabwe—capturing both its beauty and its challenges. Together with the sculptures, his paintings deepen the emotional and cultural resonance of the Mapiti experience.
The Mapiti collection is a living tribute—not only to Sampson Kuvenguhwa’s legacy but to the creativity of Zimbabwe as a whole. We invite you to step into this sculpted village and connect with the land, people, and spirits it so powerfully represents.
The result is more than a sculpture display—it is an immersive journey through rural Zimbabwe. The village scene, composed of over 90% of carvings by Sam himself, features traditional life in motion: people, animals, and spiritual figures coexisting in harmony. You’ll find powerful busts, detailed wildlife carvings, and rare wooden sculptures rescued from areas such as Mutare and Victoria Falls.
While most of the sculptures are in the Shona tradition—including Karanga, Zezuru, Korekore, and Manyika—Zimbabwe is a diverse nation, and about 20% of the population is Ndebele. We therefore embrace the broader Zimbabwean identity in describing this collection. The rich influence of Great Zimbabwe and Shona mythology can also be seen in many of the pieces, continuing a legacy of storytelling through stone and wood.
To complement the sculptures, we have added vibrant paintings by Barry Lungu. His works offer a vivid and honest portrayal of life as it really is in Zimbabwe—capturing both its beauty and its challenges. Together with the sculptures, his paintings deepen the emotional and cultural resonance of the Mapiti experience.
The Mapiti collection is a living tribute—not only to Sampson Kuvenguhwa’s legacy but to the creativity of Zimbabwe as a whole. We invite you to step into this sculpted village and connect with the land, people, and spirits it so powerfully represents.
Welcome to our Rendition of Mapiti
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Barry Lungu joins us in Mapiti
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