Introducing Kuveza Gallery

Kuveza Gallery offers unique pieces of art that are distinctively made with stones by some of the best stone carvers in the world.

The aim is to provide aesthetic African art pieces that are uniquely made with stones that are locally and responsibly sourced from talented Shona in the Sub-Saharan Africa region and handcrafted by artisans using traditional methods passed down through generations.

Kuveza, therefore, finds their pieces directly from the source, insuring the highest quality is upheld and authenticity is guaranteed.

Behind the name

Kuveza is a word derived from the Shona language meaning to carve, sculpt or carpentry. The Shona are a people whose ancestors built great stone cities in Southern Africa over a thousand years ago. The stones used most frequently belong to the geological family Serpentinite.

The Shona Culture

The Shona tribe is Zimbabwe’s largest indigenous group, their tribal language is also called Shona (Bantu) and their population is around 9 million. They are found in Zimbabwe, Botswana and southern Mozambique in Southern Africa and bordering South Africa. Representing over 80% of the population, the Shona tribe is culturally the most dominate tribe in Zimbabwe. Shona artist are well known for their stone sculptures.

The Materials Used

BUTTER JADE
Butter Jade has a creamy yellow colour with darker stripes throughout. Another form of African Jade

BROWN OPAL
A commonly smooth stone with a woody shading to it.

FRUIT SERPENTINE
Beautifully multi-coloured with deep veins of variated strata, comes from the Kwekwe area

LEPIDOLITE
A lilac-gray rare lithium rich mica mineral.

RED JASPER
An opaque stone that takes its colour from iron inclusions.

SPRINGSTONE
An exceptionally hard, dark stone found in the Tengenenge region.

GREEN OPAL
A rare opal with a naturally occurring mint green colour.

VERIDITE
A beautiful green soft stone originally found in the North Kaap River.

WONDERSTONE
A volcanic rock composed of mostly volcanic glass pieces which have been welded together by heat.

Discover more at Kuveza Gallery.