About

Eye on Africa is an importer and distributor of fine African art. We specialise in Shona stone sculpture, wood sculpture, metal sculpture and batik material. We offer years of experience in African art. Ours is a small family business and we pride our selves in our great customer service as well as affordable prices.

We travel throughout South East Africa ourselves dealing direct with the carvers, and personally choose all our artifacts. In this regard we guarantee only top quality carvings. All our artifacts are hand carved, giving them a distinct uniqueness; no two items are exactly the same!

The History of Shona Sculpture Art

Shona Stone Sculpture is a relatively new form of art in comparison with the artistic age of Africa. The development of stone sculpture in ZIMBABWE (Shona - being the Zimbabwean tribal name) commenced in the mid 20th century with the movement being founded by a man named Frank McKean.

It could be said that Frank McKean was merely the catalyst to the movement to which the Zimbabwean people belonged. He simply made it possible for these people who may not themselves, at that stage, have recognised their own talents and potential to create.

This art form is now firmly established with well known artists displaying their works in the finest galleries around the world. There are still many fine up and coming artists around the country who are yet to be recognised for there sculpture carvings.

Each piece is individually carved, normally with only the use of hand tools such as a hammer and chisel and is therefore unique. The Stone used is a soapstone by nature with varying degrees of hardness. There are many different colours of soapstone mined in Zimbabwe, hence the various and unusual colours of the sculptures displayed.

Vana Childcare Ministries

Eye on Africa supports “Vana Childcare Ministries Zimbabwe”. This is an orphanage in Chivhu, 140km south of Harare, the capital city. Over the last few years Zimbabwe’s situation has dramatically deteriorated and the country now faces many serious challenges. Poverty, the AIDS epidemic, economic hardship and political uncertainty combine to create a bleak picture for many Zimbabweans.

Eye on Africa has been exporting out of Zimbabwe for the last 12 years and has seen the country go down hill dramatically. Through the contacts that Eye on Africa have made it has been just part of the journey to help the children and the people of Zimbabwe. It has always been Eye on Africa’s philosophy “you reap what you sow”. In this regard, since Eye on Africa started in 1996, we have always looked for ways to sow part of our business profits back into the Zimbabwean community.

Over the last 12yrs Eye on Africa has been able to support a pastor and his large family, build them a house for many to live in at different times and also to build their congregation of 200 a church to worship in. Eye on Africa has only been able to do this because of the support of our customers.

If you would like to know more about VANA please do not hesitate to e-mail us at eyeonafrica@bigpond.com.