Nemakonde Student Turns Waste Slate Into Art, Showcases Zimbabwean Heritage at Chinhoyi Agricultural Show

CHINHOYI — A new form of visual art drew crowds at the Chinhoyi Agricultural Show this week after Tadiwanashe Mashakaya, a student at Nemakonde High School, exhibited artworks done on slate stone.

The exhibition, held from 3 to 8 August, featured what the student calls "slate art" — detailed pieces created directly on discarded roofing slates. 

Mashakaya said he discovered the medium by chance.  
“I discovered my talent of doing art on slate stone by serendipity, and from there I continuously produced different artworks,” he said.  

To source material, he collects used slates from people who have finished building houses, which allows him to keep costs low. 

He began by reproducing national symbols such as the Zimbabwe Bird and the Coat of Arms before expanding his range. His work also draws inspiration from ancient rock paintings and includes both realism and abstract art. To enhance the pieces, he uses materials such as brown and black shoe polish to bring out texture and depth that reflects Zimbabwean heritage.

Before venturing into slate art, Mashakaya worked with conventional media including canvas, art paper, drawings, and paintings — all of which were also on display at the school stand.

School officials said the project aligns with Education 5.0 and the heritage-based curriculum, which emphasize innovation, research, and the preservation of culture through practical learning.

Visitors to the stand praised the creativity and suggested the artworks be placed in box frames to preserve them for the long term.

“For me the agricultural show opened doors for me and for the school at large,” Mashakaya said. “It gave us a chance to show what we can do and to connect with people.”

The Chinhoyi Agricultural Show ran from 3 to 8 August, bringing together schools, farmers, businesses, and government departments