Zimbabwean Exhibition Transforms Household Brooms Into Wearable Symbols of Womanhood
A striking new exhibition titled Ndishonongoreiwo is captivating audiences across Zimbabwe, merging traditional broom-making with fashion, music, and photography to honor African femininity.
Unveiled at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, the showcase brings together visual artist Sabina Mutsvati and acclaimed mbira musician Hope Masike in a unique artistic alliance.
The idea started with a question many overlook: What links women across continents? Mutsvati’s insight—recognizing the broom as a universal symbol of womanhood led to the creation of sculptural dresses intricately crafted from African traditional brooms.
“I kept asking myself, what links women in Africa, Asia, America, the UK? And I realised at some point, every woman has used a broom,” she said.
Far more than a domestic tool, the broom takes on new meaning in Mutsvati’s hands. Her wearable sculptures, named Varoora and Vamwene, evoke ritual, memory, and the quiet power of womanhood passed down through generations.
“Women sweep to pray, to think, to plan. In some cultures, sweeping is a ceremony. Brooms carry stories and I wanted to tell them through art,” she added.
To deepen the experience, Masike infused the exhibition with mbira melodies, turning the pieces into rhythmic expressions of identity and heritage.
“Following rave reviews at the opening night, we wanted to extend the life of these artworks in sound and image.
“These dresses are symbols of the power we carry as African women. We are bearers of great wisdom and strength,” she said.
According to ZBC, Ndishonongoreiwo has gone viral across social media, with many mistaking it for part of South Africa’s Durban July Festival due to its dramatic visuals and couture styling.
Yet its essence remains deeply rooted in Zimbabwean creativity—an artistic movement redefining how stories of African womanhood are told.
By blending broom-inspired fashion, spiritual symbolism, mbira music and visual storytelling, Ndishonongoreiwo offers more than an exhibition—it presents a lyrical manifesto of strength, tradition and feminine artistry that resonates far beyond gallery walls.
