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.
