The Zimbabwean creative industry is ridden with unspoken rules, established norms and invisible hands that determine what’s talent and who’s popular.
No matter how talented you are, there’s a certain archetype of creative that you have to be if you want to crack it in this cutthroat industry.
Therefore, for the sake of survival, most will capitulate to the whims of the system; both in creation and in delivery. Five years later, their replacement is already being propped up by the powers that be, and they find themselves teetering on the brink of oblivion.
But there’s always exceptions — once-in-a-generation talents that tear up the rule book and find their own way to reverence.
This is the energy that Tinashe Madzivanyika, better known as Yashe, exuded as we sat down for his first article with us. His perspective, his journey, his art was just so different from everything that had been witnessed in Zimbabwean visual art in the past 2 decades.
At the time, Yashe was unheralded. Veteran artists, fellow budding artists and the institutions had no idea that a storm was brewing right out of Kwekwe. Him becoming our first ever Artist Avenue feature became a key milestone in the story.
For the remainder of 2024, Yashe kept creating, far away from the spotlight. Many started seeing our coverage as vacuous promotion. “Cover the names that matter,” they said.
But here’s the thing — our work is almost prophetic in nature. Mcheno and More documents today in anticipation of tomorrow. We knew Shiriyashe was headed for the stars, and we felt it was essential to document his story right before he took off. A year on, as usual, our assertions were proven right.
Early this year, Yashe announced that he will be working with DPA.ART, a gallery launched in October 2024. The hybrid gallery falls under the Design Publishing Africa (DPA) group of enterprises, founded by media veteran Milly McPhie.
DPA.ART announced their entry into the market with an exhibition titled ‘DPA @ The Dome’, held at Savanna Camp; an expansive game resort nestled in Melfort. They followed it up with an international exhibition in February 2025 titled First Light. Held in Cape Town, the exhibition coincided with the Cape Town Art Fair and featured artists like Mukudzei Muzondo, Takunda Regis Billiat and Sandra Ndoro.
On June 13, DPA.ART will host its first local exhibition of the year and the feature artist is none other than Yashe! This will mark Yashe’s debut solo exhibition — an opportunity for fellow artists, collectors and connoisseurs to witness the brilliance that we heralded a year back.
Of course, we just had to be there for this moment, as Yashe prepares for the big day. A quick interview in-between hectic preps for the exhibition was the least we could conjure. Enjoy!
Hie Yashe. Finally, your first solo exhibition! How long did it take to get you here?
Yeah man, its finally happening! I made my first paintings in early 2022 and we are now in 2025. It’s been three years full of so many moments and memories.
You titled your exhibition Random Access Memoirs. Why Random Access Memoirs?
My work is based on the randomness of life and all its activities, whenever I work I also try to access fragments of my own memories, some clear some hazy.
Once put together on a canvas, it represents some sort of timestamp for me – to be used as reference in the future, hopefully to create more work.
Friday the 13th. Spooky! What can expect people to see at the exhibition?
Quite an eerie coincidence, right? (laughs). Expect to see Yashe on canvas, expect to see bits of my memories and a whole lot of vibrant colours.
Mara Mara Restaurant, deep in the leafy suburbs of Harare. Such a long way from your home town and your start in visual art. What kept you going over these years?
Ah yes quite far from the birth place of most of my work, which is Kwekwe.
I kept myself going because I love creating art for myself. I love my art, I love seeing my own art and now its time for everyone else to have a look at it as well.
Your journey continues as an artist, from humble beginnings in Kwekwe. Do you plan on staying connected to where it all began, or its high-end Yashe from now on?
I am always going to be connected to my home town. This is my birth place, this is where I laid my first brush stroke.
You can never speak of Yashe the artist without mentioning Yashe the son of Kwekwe.
The Skeyi and Strobo Collective were the first to recognise your talent and give you a platform back in 2022. What words do you have for the creators of the Fabrik Party?
Quite grateful to have such guys who are always creating a platform for all of us.
The very first time I ever put out my art for public viewing was at the 2022 Fabrik Party and that actually boosted my confidence.
I’d also like to give my thanks to Ngaatendwe Mapako, who linked me up with the guys at Skeyi & Strobo.
In our first feature article with you last year, we likened you to Basquiat. This Friday marks a milestone you promised us — your debut exhibition. Was our coverage a motivator, in a sense?
I remember reading through that article and saying, “ I have to stand up for my city and for these words that have been written.”
From then it always remained in the back of my head, and sometimes people would even remind me, referring back to that article.
So, yeah, I can say that article played a role in all the work that has led to my first exhibition. You christened me ‘Kwekwe’s Basquiat’, and on Friday I just hope people get to see what you saw before my art ever saw the walls of a gallery.
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To most, Friday at Mara Mara will be the first encounter with Yashe’s art. To us, it is confirmation of a bold proclamation we made a year ago. To the artist himself, though, it will be another step in a long journey that started three years back.
This Friday the 13th, be there for Yashe’s debut exhibition, at Mara Mara Restaurant (formerly Belgrado) — corner Second Street and Maasdorp Avenue. Exhibition opens at 1800hrs. DJ’s will be there to set the mood, while some good food and cocktails will be served.
If you miss the opening, don’t worry — the exhibition will be on show at Mara Mara Restaurant until 18 June.
