Linos Tonderai Sowa was born in 1978 in Nyanga in eastern Zimbabwe. He began sculpting with his step-father, Julius Chinhoyi, in 1995. He worked with Julius for two years and another two years with Rosemary Chakanyuka in Chitungwiza before taking the decision to work alone as a full-time artist in 2002.
“Being an artist is a very good job. My stepfather, Julius Chinhoyi, inspired me. He always taught me to socialise with people, and by so doing I ended up doing everything with love. When I started carving, love became the theme of my sculptures.”
Tonderai Sowa’s career has accelerated and recent highlights include:
- Oct 2013 – second prize in the Art exhibition and competition ‘Celebration’, held at the Arts Centre to celebrate its 15th Anniversary
- Feb-Apr 2014 – one of four Zimbabwean artists invited to participate in an Artist Exchange at Sonkala Yonkala in Luanda, Angola with Angolan artist Jao Mayembe