Arts, Sports, and Culture

Museums
The Natural History Museum in Bulawayo embraces a comprehensive library and
exhibition galleries. Its world-renowned collections relate to Entomology (insects),
Geology, Herpetology (reptiles and amphibians), Ichthyology (fishes), Mammology,
Ornithology (birds), and Palaeontology (prehistoric life forms). There is a wide variety
of public galleries exhibiting the history of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences in Harare houses a library, exhibition
galleries, and a model Shona Village, in addition to holding ethnographic and
archaeological collections. Wildlife exhibits are on show in public galleries.
Mutare Museum has a large collection of antiquities that include early forms of
modern technology. The transport gallery portrays the history of that sector in the
country, while the public galleries show animal and plant forms peculiar to the
Eastern Districts, as well as the cultures of the people therein.
Gweru Museum is essentially a military and police history museum. A new
development is the Aviation Museum, which houses both military and civilian aircraft,
and is expanding to reflect the country history in that field. Gold Mining Museum in
Kwe Kwe depicts through mining antiquarian, the history of the gold mining industry
from the earliest times to date. At the same venue is the Paper House built of paper
mache and wire mesh walls. It is the sole survivor of three such buildings
constructed in 1895.
National Monuments
The Great Zimbabwe was declared a World Heritage Site in 1986. It was known for
its grandeur as early as the 16th century when its existence was made known to the
outside world by the Portuguese. It is spread over 720 hectare area, and comprises
an impressive array of dry stone structure that divides into three groups: the Hill
Complex, which is a series of stone-walled enclosures set among boulders at the top
of an 80 metre high wall; The Great Enclosure, a massive wall 255 metre
circumference, 10 metres high and 5 metres wide in parts; the Valley Complex, from
which the carved Zimbabwe Bird, now the country emblem, was found.
Other monuments are Khami in Bulawayo, also declared a World Heritage site in
1986, Nalatale, Dhlodhlo, and Dziwa.
National Archives
The National Archives, situated 6 kilometres from central Harare on the Borrowdale
Road, is the storehouse of Zimbabwe history. It is custodian of the national
documentary heritage, and its collection includes the records of Central Government,
local authorities, and parastatals, the papers of private individuals who have
contributed to the history and development of the country, the national reference
library, pictorial, audio-visual and map collections, and special deposits, such as
coins, medals, and postage stamps.

Rock Art
Zimbabwe is very rich in Rock Art. In the Rock Art Section of the Department of
Stone Age Archaeology in Harare, there is an official listing of over 2000 painted
caves and sites. The most impressive is the beautifully painted Nzwatugi Cave in the
Matopos, considered to be among the most outstanding in Africa. Also of major
interest in the same area are the Silozwane, Bambata, and Pomongwe caves.
Prehistoric paintings on rock faces, overhangs, and shelters are to be found
throughout Zimbabwe, and many more remain to be discovered.
Stone Sculpture
Stone sculpture is a thriving form of art, which has its roots in our culture. The artistry
manifests itself through animals, people, abstract art, etc. There are a lot of
renowned Shona Stone Sculptors, the most popular of them being Nicholas
Mukomberanwa, Henry Munyaradzi, and the late Takawira brothers. In most cases,
the stone sculptures portray powerful messages about our lifestyles. Woodcarvings
of different animals, people, etc., are also found especially along the Bulawayo to
Victoria Falls road.
Pottery
This is another form of art depicting our culture, and includes household utensils of
clay pots used for cooking and storing water.
Crochet
This has mushroomed all over Zimbabwe, and the products are displayed along
highways leading to tourist resort centres, in shops, etc. Goods include dresses,
shirts, table mats, doilies, and hats.
Music
Zimbabweans are a happy people, and they express their happiness through music
and dance. Traditional music always had a message or lesson, and the beauty of the
songs comes out through the various traditional music instruments, like the drums,
mbira, marimba, congas, and jingles. Some music artists have also diversified into
modern music. Zimbabwean musicians of outstanding repute include Thomas
Mapfumo, Oliver Mutukudzi, Simon Chimbetu, and Leonard Zhakata.
Culture
Hospitality and etiquette are the hallmark of our traditional culture. It is the norm to
welcome strangers, make them feel comfortable, and give them food, as well as
assist them. Food and drink is abundant, and the most popular Zimbabwean dish is
sadza (maize paste) and beef stew with vegetables. The National Breweries has 7
different types of larger beer, namely Castle, Lion, Black Label, Bohlingers, Golden
Pilsner, Centenary, and Zambezi, which has carved its niche in the US market.
Zimbabweans also enjoy traditional bulk beer called Chibuku.
Sport and Recreation
Zimbabweans are keen sports fans. Soccer is by far the most popular team sport,
and as such has the largest following. State policy is to spread previously minority
sports like tennis, cricket, and rugby, and make them attract bigger crowds.

Recent international successes that have seen the country achieve Test Status in
cricket and five runs in the Davis Cup tournament have boosted the two disciplines
crowd appeal.
Golfing
Public support for golf, netball, handball, cycling, swimming, athletics, water skiing,
gymnastics and hockey is on the increase, especially after construction of modern
facilities in 1995.
For the fitness enthusiast, there are numerous clubs and gymnasiums offering a
variety of sports, ranging from Karate to Judo, and boxing.