(b.1985 Harare, Zimbabwe)

My work speaks to the struggles and dreams of the people of Zimbabwe. Political and economic stability over several decades has forced many Zimbabweans, including myself and some family members, to migrate. Finding themselves in foreign countries – and, often, subjected to poor working and living conditions – Zimbabweans learn how to make ends meet while, at the same time, to not forgo ambition. These opposing currents – joy and desire on the one hand; exploitation and alienation on the other – often come to be represented in photographs. In these photographs, people dress their best; they choose glamorous settings for backgrounds; they pose. My paintings are based off of these photographs, conveying my countrymen’s resilience and determination to live (or, at least, to project) a better life.

The zumbani (tea leaf from the fever tree) composes the background of each portrait. Zumbani is a medicinal plant that for generations has been used to provide relief from various illnesses such as coughs, colds, headaches and, most recently, COVID-19. While its effectiveness has been disputed, I refer to zumbani symbolically. We, as Zimbabweans, are scattered across the globe; zumbani reminds us of the places where we grew up, our mothers and grandmothers who prepared this herb for us when we took ill. In this way, the flower connects us to home and ancestry. It is a sign of national identity founded on the basis of care and, thus, serves as a talisman against grief.

Tafadzwa Tega was born in Harare and studied art at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. In 2008, Tega moved to South Africa, later joining Good Hope Art Studio. Tega has participated in several group exhibitions and has presented solo exhibitions in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa as well as Lausanne, Switzerland. His work can be found in several prominent private collections, including the Leridon Collection, the Spier Arts Trust, Nando’s and the University of Cape Town. Tega is currently based in Cape Town, where he is a resident at Greatmore Studios.

Education

2008       Diploma in Fine Art, National Gallery of Zimbabwe

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Solo Exhibitions

2021
Harare Dream, Foreign Agent, Lausanne, Switzerland

2020
Mwana Whevu (Son of the Soil), Gallery MOMO, Johannesburg, South Africa

2019
Africa Without Borders, Gallery MOMO, Cape Town, South Africa

2014
Africa Without Borders, World Art, Cape Town, South Africa

2012
Adolf Tega, AVA Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

Group Shows

2021
A Very Loop Street Summer, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa
8x8, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa

2020
Summer Show, Gallery MOMO, Cape Town, South Africa

2019
#Recess, Gallery MOMO, Johannesburg, South Africa
Urban Archeology, Daor Contemporary, Cape Town, South Africa
Nando’s Creative Exchange, AVA Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

Fair Booths

2021
Mimmo Scognamiglio / Placido, Art Miami
Mimmo Scognamiglio / Placido, Dallas Art Fair
Open City: Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt, FNB Art Joburg
Foreign Agent, 1-54 London
EBONY/CURATED, Investec Cape Town Art Fair

2020
Gallery MOMO, Investec Cape Town Art Fair

2019
Gallery MOMO, FNB Art Joburg

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Collections

• Leridon Collection

• Spier Arts Trust

• Nando’s Collection

• University of Cape Town