Harare — ACCLAIMED sculptor Dominic Benhura is now the owner of Tengenenge Art Community in Guruve. He takes over from Tom Blomefield now 81 years as the director. Our reporter JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA (JM) talks to Dominic Benhura (DB) on his vision over Tengenenge, which has become the cradle of sculpture.

JM: Compliments of the new season you seem to have started on a good footing.

DB: Same to you and thanks so much. Everything has been good.

JM: How did it all start?

DB: I had a call from Tom saying that he wanted to leave and asked if I was interested in buying Tengenenge. Of course, there were other interested people from both the local and international scene. So I then told him that I was interested and we met and the deed was done.

JM: You are now the owner of Tengenenge could you tell us your vision on this?

DB: Basically, as artists we share the same vision of becoming successful and being able to fend for our children. However, I must hasten to say that the community should not expect me to perform any miracles. It is my wish to take Tengenenge to a higher level through not only my contacts but Tom's as well. I believe in sharing and listening to ideas.

JM: Do you see the take over as a challenge?

DB: Not at all! There are sculptors in the mould of Josiah Manzi and Amali Maikolowho have been there before me and these are the right people who will guide to achieve our endeavours. There is a lot of talent and sculptors full of energy and are willing to try out new things every time.

For me it seemed all like a dream because Tengenenge is a community with cultured people who believe in themselves and love their culture. The only challenge perhaps is to see a school, a clinic and a shop being built at the community. But like I said this it is all a dream.

JM: You run you own workshop -- Dominic Studios -- what is it that you saw in Tengenenge?

DB: We have a lot of talent there. Imagine there are 1000 sculptors both men and women who produce new and creative works without copying from each other. If you look at the works carefully there is individual artistic talent and that is very encouraging. Besides, there is also a mine, which I am now in charge of. So far, I have spotted the people who will be in charge of running the affairs at Tengenenge.

There are also people with the right knowledge who will assist me on the business side of things while I take care of the artistic side since I'm an artist.

Tengenenge has the potential to grow and the people there have so much respect for me as an artist. The way they handle themselves in the community reminds me of my own rural background in Murehwa.

I was so touched by their traditions and their humility in everything they do. It has a homely environment and serene surroundings. At least these are some of the things that I considered before I made the move to buy Tengenenge. As we talk right now everything is now in my name.

JM: What is the future of Dominic Studios?

DB: It is a different thing altogether. I started Dominic Studios in Greendale in 1994 as a platform where sculptors meet and work. I provided the necessary materials and exposure. I intend to bring artists from Tengenenge to Harare. What is perhaps of interest is that Tengenenge is solely a business venture like any other company.

Dominic Studios would continue to run as a workshop and that is how it has been from the outset.

JM: So who is who at Tengenenge?

DB: At the moment I'm the director and like I said this is a business and not a co-operative as some people would want to think. We are going to announce the changes very soon to allow for the smooth running of business. So far I have managed to get people who are on the ground to help me with administrative work.

JM: Tengenenge is a community and like any other communities it has its own problems and how do you intend to solve internal disputes?

DB: I mentioned that there are a cultured people but there are one or two elements that are extreme. Even in a family of three there is bound to be one who is wayward but I think in such cases we have to be frank and open to each other.

We have to be able to tell each other the truth if we cannot reach a compromise. There are problems, which can be solved and some that are difficult to solve.

That's just the way it is. As artists, everyday is a challenge but I hope for the better and with the help from the elders we should be able to forge ahead.

JM: There are people who think that your take over of Tengenenge spells doom for the community?

DB: I have sought out to prove them wrong. You see, it does not mean that when a local guy like me is in charge of a company then that business will collapse, in fact, so far I have the support of the people and they respect that I'm now in charge.

JM: There are also those who think you will market yourself at the expense of Tengenenge?

DB: Like I mentioned earlier, Tengenenge is a business and it will be run like one. Since it is my business it has to make profit so that argument is not valid since my job is to ensure that at the end of the day the business makes profit and that way everyone will be happy.

So I will use my contacts to expose the talent that is there while ensuring that visitors continue coming to the community. Tengenenge is now different from Dominic Studios whereby artists can come and relax the whole day. But at Tengenenge is we encourage artists to work for their own good. I also intend to market Tengenenge properly through the use of the Internet and overseas contacts.

JM: What has been your secret to success?

DB: It has a lot to do with God-given talent and a bit of luck. You see, I started out at a tender age of 12 with a lot of ideas and I continuously experimented with new things until people started liking my art. Remember you don't plan to be successful. It comes from God.

I wouldn't say it's solely hard work because I know a lot of people who work hard but somehow things don't work out the way they want them. It took me a lot of planning and being with the people from all walks of life. Every time I meet people I learn from them. What I want to let people know is that Tengenenge is for real and the success of any business lies in the quality of the product. One cannot afford to live like an island this is why people suffer from stress and ideas from other people make me a whole human being.

JM: You are an acclaimed sculptor and now the owner of Tengenenge some people think you are competing with artists whom you are promoting?

DB: Of course, yes! My work is different from theirs and by competing with them it would help me improve my arts and continue experimenting with different art forms. However, everyone at Tengenenge has their own style and art form but still their art is appreciated all over the world.

We have names like Victor Fire, Manzi, Mali among others who are already doing well with their own art. Like I said earlier, the success lies in the quality of the product so, they should be creative.

JM: So far what is your biggest challenge?

DB: It has been piracy. I hope the relevant authorities will act on it because sculpture, like any other art form is under threat from pirates. It is my wish that 50 years from now we create artists not artisans. What is encouraging though is that the National Arts Council (of Zimbabwe) and the National Gallery are aware of piracy although until now noone had been arrested on that.

We want to create a situation where genuine art rewards the creators. I would not be happy to die now and then the young artists start duplicating my work.

Sculpture like music has helped put Zimbabwe on the map and it is possible to have our own sculpture museum that attracts tourists but what we need to do is to protect it.

Real art has more value than fake art. We have good ambassadors like Oliver Mtukudzi and others whose music is known throughout the world. Sculpture too has the potential to do the same. Zimbabwean sculpture is rich in texture and form.