Jacob's Paintings

While studying for his Cambridge School Certificate at Old Umtali (Mutare) Mission, Jacob Chikuhwa and a few other students became interested in painting and decoration. He decided to take Art as one of his subject entries for the examinations at the Cambridge level.

Taking advantage of the broad and wonderful skills of Mr Dewey, the Art instructor and Chemistry teacher, the few students who chose Art as a subject did pastel and water-colour painting. They specialised in landscape and portrait. They also did still life, linoleum cutting and silk screening.

After completing his Cambridge School Certificate in 1962, Jacob Chikuhwa wanted to enter the Salisbury (Harare) Polytechnic where he would specialise in Painting and Decoration. Unfortunately, he was deprived of the opportunity because during those days the Rhodesian regime regarded this area of specialisation a preserve for whites. However, in 1967 Jacob was again able to take up technical drawing during his studies at the Kiev State University in the former Soviet Union.

After having settled in Sweden in 1972, Jacob Chikuhwa attended painting classes and has since that time continued to paint as a hobby. His first exhibition was at Immanuel Church in April 2005. He went on to have a joint exhibition with two other artists - one from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the other from Tanzania. This was at Lidingö Council House between 14 June and 4 August 2006.

Now one event has lead to another. In March 2007, together with the two artists, Victor Mukeng (DRC), Andy Dudley Mliga (Tanzania), and some other African enthusiasts that include Andrew Lawoko, Rowallan Nyika, John Mwesigye and Shamima, Jacob has helped to establish an association called "Afrikanska Nutida Konst och Kultur" (The African Contemporary Art and Culture).

Encouraged by Raisa, his wife, Jacob Chikuhwa started painting as a hobby in 1974. With a couple of paintings in his portfolio, he started attending painting lessons in Stockholm. The art instructor found Jacob's paintings attractive and encouraged him to experiment with acrylic paints. The instructor became an inspiration. Over the years, Jacob has made an impressive collection.

His breakthrough came in April 2005 when he was asked by Pastor Doug Fondell to exhibit at Galleri Immanuel in the Immanuel Church in Stockholm. This was during the African Cultural Week to celebrate African art and crafts, music and dance, fashion and culinary.

With a combination of admiration and tragedy, Jacob Chikuhwa was emboldened to continue painting. Admiration, in the sense that for the first time he was able to sell a couple of paintings. And tragedy, in the sense that four of his paintings were ‘snatched' from the gallery in broad daylight. This was a blessing in disguise as his son sought to calm his frustration at the theft. "Dad, come to think of it, this is a complement because it goes to prove that your paintings are good. Otherwise who would dare steal paintings from the House of God, for that matter?"

Impressed by Jacob's paintings, a friend in the Immanuel International Fellowship, who is a town planner with the Lidingö Stad, decided to organise an exhibition by three African artists. John Mwesigye brought together Jacob Chikuhwa (Zimbabwe) - with his landscape; Victor Mukeng (Democratic Republic of Congo) - with his abstract art; and Andy Dudley Mliga (Tanzania) - with his nature paintings. The African Touch exhibition extended from June 14 to August 4 2006.

On this website are some paintings from the African Touch hugely successful exhibition. Like a gentle flow of the river, this collection of Acrylic Paintings offers remarkable calm and a serenity reaching ecstasy. Sultrily soothing and interestingly broad in scope, the landscape paintings on this website are beautiful beyond the singing of it.

Jacob’s style is to touch the nerve behind the stiff back part of the brain. He does so with a sparkle of wit and brilliant conciseness. All the paintings are bitingly and immediately enjoyable and exquisitely drawn.

It is a pleasant surprise, a delight, even for those who have known Jacob Chikuhwa as an economist/author. One has come to expect an academic analysis of the socio-economic situation in Zimbabwe. But to view these beautiful paintings gives another dimension into Jacob's persona.