Head and Soul

This African art sculpture is known as Shona sculpture because it is carved by the Shona of Zimbabwe.  The ancestral spirit or 'Mudzimu' is central to Shona culture and is the support and success of the family.  The 'Mudzimu' are ancestral spirits and, together with other spirits, control every aspect of Shona life.  They are the family's protectors and spiritual guides.  Often, these spirits speak to the sculptors through their dreams and create inspiration for new works of art.  The manifestation of these spirits in stone created by the Shona sculptors are, in general, fantastically abstract.  These sculptures are very meaningful to the artists and each piece is a testament to the sculptor's creativity and vision.