Dancing Family of 5 Sculpture

This lovely family of 5 is carved by hand by a husband and wife team, Samuel and Gladys Mashava. Also known as "Ukama" or "Loving Family", these Shona pieces are one of the most popular emerging African art forms. The figures show many family members, but all merge together at various points, symbolizing the unity and shared spirit of the family unit. They are hand-carved out of rapoka, a semi soft local (to Zimbabwe) stone using simple hand held chisels. Polished with sand and beeswax they are heated on a fire to bring out their brilliant colors.