Stone Sculpture History

Background

Zimbabwe is a pear shaped country wedged between South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Mozambique. History says, the Bantu people from the north settled in Zimbabwe in the 5th century. No additional information can be found.

Starting in about the 12th century large stone structures and a city were built known today as "Greater Zimbabwe" the name means "house of stone". Until the 15th century Greater Zimbabwe was the seat of the king of the early Bantu tribe. For more information please visit the website of Greater Zimbabwe.

During the 15th century the Rozwi Tribe, a war like martial tribe, invaded the lands of our new Zimbabwe. Under their rule the legendary kingdom. "Mutota" - master of the mines - developed and flourished. Skills such as farming, mining, stone craft and warriors training were controlled under an aristocracy with a strict hierarchical structure.

It is alleged that the "Shona Tribe" descendant from the Mutota dynasty (The Great King Mutota ruled from 1440) saw that if the states of West Africa stood alone they were vulnerable to exploitation. He and his council went about uniting Africans into a vast empire. The empire is reputed to have stretched from across the Limpopo, Zimbabwe, beyond the Zambezi into Zambia and Mozambique. This area contained vast wealth with over 4000 mines. After struggling for over 30 year he achieved his goal of unification, formed the empire of Monomotiapa and formed their own political identity. Today the Shona people make up 80% of the population of Zimbabwe. The balance of 18% are of Matabele descendants of Shaka Zulu´s from South Africa and the balance of 2% are European, Chinese, Indian etc.

The 17th century saw the start of European influence with the arrival of Christian missionaries, Portuguese and British explorers. By the end of the 19th century the country was being taken over by Cecil John Rhodes on behalf of the British Empire. It became known as Southern Rhodesia and became part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

In 1980 after the war of independence, the country received its independence from Great Britain and the name changed to Zimbabwe with its first African president Robert Mugabe.

During excavations at a site at Greater Zimbabwe two bird sculptures were found. The birds were carved out of soapstone-rapoka. One of these birds is incorporated in the Zimbabwe flag.

Stone Sculpture History

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