‘Birds of Zimbabwe’ stone exhibition, a creative economy boost
Ward 26 Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo
By Mbekezeli Ncube
Bulawayo is set to host a major stone sculpture exhibition celebrating Zimbabwe’s birdlife, with Ward 26 Councillor and Chairperson of the City of Bulawayo’s Finance and Development Committee, Mpumelelo Moyo, describing the event as a significant boost for the city’s creative economy and cultural tourism.
The Birds of Zimbabwe exhibition, organised by Kori Studio, will run from September 18 to 25, 2026, at the studio located at 16 Francis Warren Road in Ilanda.
The exhibition will bring together six Zimbabwean sculptors from across the country, showcasing stone artworks inspired by Zimbabwe’s indigenous birds.
The works are expected to include sculptures of eagles, owls, hornbills and rollers, as well as triptychs and mixed-media pieces exploring themes of conservation, resistance and renewal.
Councillor Moyo welcomed the decision to bring an exhibition of such scale to Bulawayo, saying the city had historically seen major events of this nature concentrated in Harare.
“We are grateful as the City of Kings to host such an event which reflects strongly on our rich cultural background and blends it with modernity in an upmarket studio,” he said.
“In the past such events have been centralised in Harare, but the Second Republic has been rotating such events, which we welcome as a city.”
Councillor Moyo said hosting cultural events in Bulawayo could contribute to the local economy by increasing spending in the city while also exposing residents and visitors to Zimbabwe’s rich history and artistic heritage.
He also welcomed the establishment of Kōri Studio, describing it as an example of the type of modern development he would like to see more of in Bulawayo.
“Again, we are also pleased to have such places as Kori Studio being developed in Bulawayo. It’s a place built with such modernity which brings a vast variety of places where people can visit and relax and enjoy fresh meals,” he said.
As Chairperson of the Finance and Development Committee, Councillor Moyo said he was particularly encouraged by the employment opportunities such developments create for young people.
“Such places also employ our youths, therefore bringing them out of drugs and substance abuse,” he said.
The exhibition is curated by Talent Kapadza, a resident artist at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, under Lead Curator Dr T. Muganyi of Kori Studio.
The event will culminate in a closing ceremony attended by Deputy Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Hon. K.D. Mnangagwa (MP), who will be the Guest of Honour and address the role of the creative sector in economic development.
Legal practitioner Mr N. Sibanda of Tanaka Law Chambers will speak on intellectual property protection for artists and the wider creative industry, while Councillor Moyo has been invited to reflect on the significance of art in Bulawayo and the nation.
Councillor Moyo said stronger cooperation between the City of Bulawayo and central government would help accelerate development and enable the city to strengthen its position as a modern cultural and economic centre.
“I wish to see more such places opening up in the city and more programmes of cooperation between the City of Bulawayo and the Government,”
“Such cooperation quickens the development, and that is what we are longing for as the City of Bulawayo, so as to proudly claim our City of Kings status in a developed and modernised environment,” said Moyo.
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