Albert Munyai

Although Albert Munyai remembers his grandfather carving, he taught himself to carve in 1985 under the guidance of his brother-in-law, Samuel Nethengwe. It was at this time that he carved his first spoons, bowls and walking sticks. He now works full-time as an artist. When the artist David Roussow (b.1959) befriended Munyai in 1986, he showed him images of Michelangelo’s sculptures. Munyai was inspired and his work developed further. In 1987, he was arrested, charged with carving wood without a permit, and fined R200. His sculptures were confiscated, and despite Roussow’s attempts to save them, they were all burned. Read More…