While the space itself is a welcome addition to Bulawayo’s art scene, providing a much-needed platform for creative expression, the promising premise fell short in its execution and exposed significant areas for improvement.
Curated by Owen Maseko, his multiple roles as VAAB chairman, exhibition curator, and participating artist raise critical questions about the potential for conflict of interest and divided focus.
The short timeline between open call submissions and the exhibition, left many Bulawayo Visual Artists left out hence the display felt rushed, with little room for refinement. Moreover, the exhibition statement lacked clarity, judging by the exhibited artworks leaving some participating artists uncertain about the central theme and intended narrative. This lack of coherence further created a gap in the audience's engagement with the artwork.
The curatorial work suffered from several logistical oversights, leaving visitors without essential context. The lighting was inadequate for a “Gallery-in-making”, with some works poorly illuminated, which detracted from their impact. Such lapses signaled a lack of preparation and attention to detail. The marketing of the Gallery and exhibition was minimal, and it affected the attendance.
This was a missed opportunity to showcase the new gallery and the emerging artists to a broader audience. For institutions like Amakhosi and the VAAB, an improved marketing strategy would be crucial for future events to ensure higher visibility and community engagement.
The trajectory of the annual VAAB exhibitions standards does not appear to be consistently upheld, raising questions about its structure, planning and long-term commitment to its membership. Establishing consistency will be vital for building a recognisable and reliable Association and platform for artists and audiences. While a few seasoned artists participated, the exhibition primarily showcased emerging names. This highlighted the need for more robust curatorial work and mentorship to elevate participation and the overall quality of the exhibition. The absence of 3D works was a noticeable gap, emphasising the need for broader artist engagement to fully represent the diversity of Bulawayo’s artistic community. Since its inception, the annual showcase has historically been a source of inspiration, confidence, and opportunity for many artists in the city.
Expanding participation to include a wider range of mediums and styles would help maintain its relevance and impact.
A Trigger for Freedom of Expression, Amakhosi Gallery will have to offer more than just a physical space—its presence triggers new opportunities for freedom of expression for artists in the region. By breaking away from historical censorship and creating an environment where artistic voices can thrive, the gallery may represent a vital step forward for the visual arts in Bulawayo and beyond. 
Despite these shortcomings, Sibambe Ngamazinyo underscores the challenges in VAAB to me the exhibition title translates to “we are hanging by the thread”
The space is an exciting addition to Bulawayo’s creative landscape, with the capacity to host significant visual arts events.
Congratulations are due to the Amakhosi Cultural Centre team for their effort in bringing this vision to life and the VAAB for keeping the artist's dream alive despite the challenges. With better planning, clearer communication, and a commitment to professional standards, future exhibitions at the Amakhosi Gallery can become transformative moments for Bulawayo’s visual arts community. This inaugural effort may have stumbled, but it marks the beginning of what could become a vibrant and influential platform for the city’s artists.
Cliford Zulu is an Independent Curator working and based in Bulawayo.
Cliford Zulu unfortunately I find this article very lame, emotional and too much of a personal attack. Firstly you did not even photograph an artwork in the exhibition but decided to put a sculpture in the garden, couldn't even get your facts right by asking Gcina Warabile Mhlanga , Amakhosi Gallery or , Owen Maseko , Vaab chairperson. Writing such negativity as a former chairperson of Vaab yourself is a great disappointment which clearly shows that you are uplifting your newly found cca organization, hence, speaking of clash of interest, I think you not the best person to do a review for visual arts. You are not suppose to see this new gallery and Vaab existence as a threat or competition but focus on building good relationship or collaboration. You well know that Vaab for many has been managed by artists for artists, playing a pivotal role in grooming young artists. The biggest challenge we have now is senior artists like you who are anti progressive and bad mouthing Vaab. The only positive thing I can take from your poorly written article is that you recognize that we stepped out of the box and came up with a huge shocking initiative in the arts industry in Bulawayo... Vele kukhonkothwa ehambayo, yikho izinja zonke seziphandle, that will definitely attract more funding our direction, siyabonga kakhulukazi!
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