How Vimbai Lole transforms Zim heritage into timeless contemporary African jewellery collections

By Tendai Sauta | Jul 17, 2026 | 3 Min read

ZIMBABWE’S creative economy continues to nurture entrepreneurs reshaping African design.

Among them is Shonga founder and creative director Vimbai Lole (VL), whose family-led jewellery brand blends Zimbabwean heritage with contemporary craftsmanship.

In this interview with NewsDay Life & Style reporter Tendai Sauta (ND), Lole reflects on Shonga’s journey, African identity, craftsmanship and her vision for a home-grown design house.

ND: Vimbai, tell us about yourself and how you entered jewellery design?

VL: I founded Shonga with my three sisters Sharon, Brianna and Sharmaine.

Although none of us trained as jewellers, we have always shared a love for fashion, African history, storytelling and design.

Jewellery became our starting point, but our vision is to build an Afro-inspired design house spanning fashion, accessories and lifestyle products.

ND: What does Shonga mean?

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VL: Shonga means “adornment” in Shona.

We wanted to celebrate adornment as an expression of African identity, history and personal storytelling rather than decoration alone.

ND: What philosophy defines the brand?

VL: We describe our jewellery as “sculpture for the body”.

Every piece is thoughtfully designed, drawing inspiration from African architecture, geometry, history and nature to create wearable art.

ND: What market opportunity did you identify?

VL: We saw space between costly luxury jewellery and inexpensive souvenirs.

Our goal is to offer beautifully crafted, contemporary African jewellery that is accessible and meaningful.

ND: What does your collection offer?

VL: We create handcrafted brass rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets, from everyday classics to bold statement pieces.

Jewellery is only the beginning of our broader design vision.

ND: Why work mainly with brass?

VL: Brass has warmth, richness and develops a beautiful patina over time.

We select materials that best complement each design.

ND: Where does your inspiration come from?

VL: African history, architecture, sculpture, nature and visual culture constantly inspire us.

Sometimes a design begins with a shape, sometimes a story or simply an emotion.

ND: How important is Zimbabwean and African heritage?

VL: It is our foundation, not merely an influence.

We create from our lived experiences and hope to showcase African design as contemporary, refined and evolving.

ND: Who is the Shonga customer?

VL: People who appreciate craftsmanship and prefer timeless pieces over short-lived trends.

ND: Are you targeting local or international markets?

VL: Zimbabwe remains our priority.

Customers can shop through our Instagram and TikTok platforms and at Harare pop-up events, while we continue building partnerships that will support future international growth.

ND: What challenges have you encountered?

VL: Helping customers appreciate the value of handmade craftsmanship has been one of our biggest challenges.

Growing steadily has strengthened our brand.

ND: Are your pieces handmade locally?

VL: Yes. We work closely with skilled local artisans whose craftsmanship is central to every Shonga creation.

ND: What milestone stands out most?

VL: Our first pop-up exceeded expectations, with several designs selling out.

Seeing customers connect with our work was especially rewarding.

ND: What is next for Shonga?

VL: We are developing new collections, exploring additional materials and expanding into lifestyle products while collaborating with more African creatives.

ND: Your message to aspiring creatives?

VL: Build something authentic.

Stay true to your identity, grow patiently and surround yourself with people who believe in your vision.