Collaboration unites art, fashion, and music

Harare, 4 July 2025 — Following rave reviews and a full house at the opening night of Ndishonongoreiwo, visual artist Sabina Mutsvati has joined forces with mbira musician Hope Masike, award-winning photographer Nyasha Gurure, and the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in a striking new artistic collaboration that extends the life of the exhibition’s central pieces through fashion and photography.

The project features a fusion of music, visual art, fashion, and photography, captured in a special photoshoot with Hope Masike wearing two avant-garde dresses titled Varoora and Vamwene. These unique pieces are woven from African traditional brooms and stand as bold artistic statements celebrating African culture and, in particular, African women.

“These dresses are a symbol of the power that we carry as African women. We should not be told otherwise. We are bearers of great wisdom, power, and strength,” said Mutsvati, whose immersive art practice has gained her growing international acclaim.

Photographer Nyasha Gurure, known as @thefemalephotographerzw on social media, explained her creative approach:

“I like thinking beyond photography, and these pieces inspired me to do exactly that. The two dresses got me thinking: these are early morning queens, and the first eyewitness is the bird. That’s why I took the other shot from a bird’s view, and I kept a sunrise light feel.”

Hope Masike, a celebrated mbira musician and cultural advocate, expressed her excitement at the partnership:

“I was really delighted to collaborate with some of Zimbabwe’s finest artists, visual artist Sabina Mutsvati, and photographer Nyasha Gurure. These are women who seek to explore creativity without any boundaries, bringing to the fore pertinent societal conversations. My own brand seeks to celebrate African art. So this collaboration spotlighted exactly that while celebrating the mbira also. Many thanks to the National Gallery of Zimbabwe for allowing us to explore all creative possibilities with Sabina’s exhibited works.”

The National Gallery of Zimbabwe, established in 1957 and renowned for showcasing contemporary and modern art, opened its doors to facilitate this photoshoot. Curator Fadzai Muchemwa highlighted the importance of such collaborations:

“Ndishonongoreiwo is an act of care and a refusal. Through collaborations like these, we are reminded that institutions, too, are living organisms, capable of transformation if we allow them to be unsettled.”

This creative partnership underscores the National Gallery’s ongoing commitment to celebrating Zimbabwe’s rich visual arts heritage while supporting new ways of engaging audiences.

Through Varoora and Vamwene, art, music, and photography have come together to celebrate the power, beauty, and resilience of African women, creating a memorable tribute to cultural heritage and artistic innovation.

Artists featured in this collaboration are available for Radio, Print, and TV interviews.

For more information, please contact:

 Email: [email protected]

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Established in 1957, the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Harare is dedicated to the presentation and conservation of the country’s contemporary and modern art and visual heritage. It also operates regional galleries in Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.

One of Zimbabwe’s well-known visual artists, Sabina Mutsvati is celebrated for her immersive works and her advocacy for greater recognition of women in Zimbabwean society and art.

Known as @thefemalephotographerzw, Nyasha Gurure is an award-winning artistic photographer and concept director focused on African storytelling through photography.

Hope Masike is a Zimbabwean mbira musician, singer-songwriter, poet, writer, music teacher and arts administrator. She serves on the boards of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe and the Alliance Française de Harare. With four albums, four books, and numerous collaborations, she is a champion of mbira both locally and internationally.