Conversation #002 - Mutemwa Mukelebai
Recording of the 2nd conversation of Collective Cares with Mutemwa Mukelebai. Held on 31st May 2026.
To activate Luyando's written reflection of his studio visit to Livingstone-based mixed media artist Mutemwa Mukelebai, Luyando and Naoko visited Mutemwa's studio. There, they had a conversation around various points in relation to Mutemwa's practice, including how and why Mutemwa made his own microscope, using objects that are available and accessible to him, such as discarded TV, umbrella handle or floppy discs. And how he calls this homemade microscope ikasuwa, which means ‘the last standing buffalo in a herd’ in Luyana, carries a weight.
“...when I was a little boy, in Dambwa, Central Livingstone. My brother came from school with a small glass bottle. We loved that the bottle was able to enlarge things (...) my search for magnifying glasses started there.” - Mutemwa Mukelebai
“Many people here who have interest in the arts, carving, are boys (...) we have a culture that cutting tools and grinders are only dealt with by men. The desire to educate them [girls/women] is always there (...) we encouraged them to do that.” - Mutemwa Mukelebai
“When you talk of basic conditions, I also refer to basic science (...) creating a boat that local children can use. But then, where do we access the river? The [Zambezi] river is no longer for the local residents, it’s for tourists.” - Mutemwa Mukelebai
“What are the limits of the ‘basic conditions’ that we ask for?” - Luyando Muleya
“Mutemwa’s practice and artworks really have a power to open up our mind and make us realise, hang on, we have all the ability to look if we want to look, rather than waiting.” - Naoko Mabon
More conversations to follow so that together we shape knowledge, meanings and relationships. Please join us and stay tuned.
**Please note: one place in the subtitle spells Mutemwa's name as “Mukelabai” but it is correctly “Mukelebai”. Sincere apologies for this.
