The talented artists of the Ruoko Project at Elephant Walk shopping village in Victoria Falls created a larger than life-size Rhino made from recycled beverage cans and snare wire recovered by the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit (VFAPU). This amazing work of art, named Twalumba ('thank you' in the local Tonga dialect) was a collaboration between Elephant Walk’s Ruoko project (this promotes local artists), and Environment Africa Vic Falls Green Fund to create awareness of waste management and conservation. Twalumba the Rhino was first exhibited at the 2012 Victoria Falls Carnival. For four months this sculpture has been prominently displayed at the entrance to the renowned Elephant Walk shopping village, now it is time for Twalumba to spread her message further afield. This icon of art for conservation is on the move.
“On Wednesday the 24th April, amidst great excitement, Twalumba left Victoria Falls to go on her first nation-wide road tour. She was seen off by Chief Mvuthu who thanked the community and organizations that made this possible and wished her a safe trip. She created quite stir going through the town of Victoria Falls on the back of a flat-bed trailer pulled by the official road tour sponsor – Swift. Many locals followed them in their vehicles to the outskirts of town and amid horns blasting, people cheering and clapping we saw Twalumba proudly flying the Zimbabwe flag off into the sunset! It was a proud moment indeed for the artists and friends of the Ruoko Project, Victoria Falls Green Fund and Environment Africa!” Commented Gail Van Jaarsveldt of Elephant Walk Shopping Village, and patron of the Ruoko Project.
Twalumba will be exhibited at The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo and at the Harare cultural festival HIFA.
Links:
Ruoko Project
Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit
Environment Africa Green Fund
Follow Twalumba’ s travels on Facebook – Friends of Twalumba
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