Staff Writer
The Oxford Zimbabwe Arts Partnership (OZAP) has launched a sculpture competition with Chitungwiza Arts Centre (CAC) to produce an artwork that provides a focus for remembering the experience of indigenous Zimbabweans during Rhodes’ violent colonial-military campaigns.
Most CAC sculptors attended the launch event on Sunday 26th January.
The project is supported by Oriel College, Oxford University, UK.
CAC Chairman, Mr Tendai Gwarazava, said in his opening speech: “The sculpture should symbolize the strength and courage of our ancestors, who despite facing unimaginable hardships, continued to fight for their freedom and dignity. It should inspire us to work towards a brighter future, where the people in the world can live in peace, harmony and prosperity.”
Emeritus Professor of African History at Oxford University, William Beinart, commented: “As a member of the Oriel College Rhodes Commission set up in response to the 2020 Oxford Rhodes Must Fall And Black Lives Matter campaigns, I researched more deeply into the wars carried out by the British South Africa Company and was shocked by the extreme violence committed against the Ndebele and Shona peoples.”
Lord Neil Mendoza, Provost of Oriel College, Oxford University provided a message by video: “This wonderful competition and the forthcoming exhibition reinforces our commitment to the continent of Africa and Oriel’s unique responsibility towards facilitating dialogue and debate around colonialism and its legacy.”
Over 100 artists have now registered as participants. The next stage will be to produce a shortlist of 50 submissions on Sunday 2 March. These will be displayed at CAC from Monday 3 March when 5 finalists will be chosen.
The final judging will be carried out on Friday 7 March by a panel chaired by Lord Mendoza with renowned Chitungwiza-based sculptor Norbert Shamuyarira and UK-based Zimbabwean multidisciplinary artist Be Manzini.
There will be an awards ceremony on Saturday 8 March at CAC. The winning sculpture will be the centrepiece of an exhibition on the legacy of Cecil Rhodes at Oxford University. It will ask visitors to reflect on what impact the British Empire had on their ancestors and consequently on their current lives.
In late September 2025, it will open at Oriel College, where a statue of Cecil Rhodes looks down on Oxford High Street.
It will then transfer across the road to the Oxford University Church of St Mary the Virgin until December. We expect other institutions to take the exhibition in 2026.
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