Jonathan Msanga
Jonathan Msanga, born in 1957 in the Eastern part of Zimbabwe in Nyanga of the Shangani Tribe. He is married with three children. Jonathan attended primary school and the first year of secondary school after which he left and returned to his tribal environment. He then took up employment as a caretaker of some guest cottages at Nyanga.
Whilst employed as a caretaker, he decided to try his hand at carving, as the material (Soapstone) was being used for building fireplaces in the cottages. His employer who encouraged him to carve Zimbabwean birds noticed his carving ability. In 1975, he was invited to join a carving community specialising in the carving of animals. It was during this period that Mhlanga began to carve eagles and other types of birds.
In 1982, Jonathan went to live in Harare where he joined a sculpting community specialising in Verdite carvings. He found it very difficult at first to work with Verdite as opposed to the soft Soapstone. Today he is one of the finest, most competent Verdite sculptors in the art movement and specialises in carving exquisite Birds of Prey and Elephants from Ruby Verdite.
Artist Sculpture:
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