Goromonzi-BASED visual artist Option Nyahunzvi staged a dramatic embodiment of a zebra totem priest at the official opening of his exhibition, Zvatiri, at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe last week.
His portrayal of a Mbizi (zebra) totem priest impressed the guest of honour and former NGZ board chairperson, Solomon Guramatunhu, who described the work as a testament to Zimbabwe’s rich artistic talent.
Developed over nine months under curator Frank Zvikomborero Mandangu, the exhibition features a series of paintings and drawings exploring habit, heritage and the moral compass embedded in Zimbabwean culture.
In his curatorial statement, Mandangu said Zvatiri reflects on how everyday practices — greetings, posture and generational conduct — are shaped by traditions inherited from antiquity. He argued that Nyahunzvi’s work highlights how the values of forebears cultivate Unhu, the philosophy of empathy, respect and communal living.
He also drew parallels between Eastern traditions, like the lotus position, and local resting postures, suggesting that body language can convey openness rather than aggression.
Introducing the guest of honour, NGZ executive director Raphael Chikukwa said the gallery continues to grow “from strength to strength”, gaining global recognition while nurturing local talent.
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He added that the gallery is preparing to host its biggest-ever conference, the Second Animal Conference, in partnership with international professionals for Zimbabwe 2026.
In his address, Guramatunhu described the exhibition as a spiritual reclamation of identity.
“Nyahunzvi considers how colonialist legal effects have masked the wisdom and beauty of history. Living a collective good, that is the meaning of giving. A major step in this restoration process is portrayed as the reclamation of stories and customs that challenge us to understand the importance of our identity through traditional rituals and ancestry,” he said.
Guramatunhu added that the exhibition honours objects carrying collective memory — drums, wooden spoons, clay pots and sacred artefacts — that embody Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage.