Fanizani was initially a quarryman but after a period living in the artists’ community he took up sculpting: finding this provided a worthwhile financial return, he became a full-time sculptor alongside other well-known figures such as Henry Munyaradzi.

[2] After Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, Tengenenge Sculpture Community[3] re-established itself as a major sculpting centre but Fanizani did not return there.

[4] Another of his 1988 works, I know you have stolen my eggs is pictured in the catalogue for the touring exhibition that visited European venues including the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in 1990[5] Akuda is probably best known for his ‘whistler’ figures.

In these stylised heads, the prototypical face with its slit eyes is given a thin mouth line with a simple centrally placed borehole.

Olivier Sultan[7] said of his work "His characters are tender and humorous, constantly smiling, with mysterious slit eyes.