by artweb

On September 26, 2024, the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Harare opened its doors to Our Father’s Inheritance Does Not Allow Us to Sleep, the latest solo exhibition by Admire Kamudzengerere. A powerful commentary on the complex layers of heritage and identity, the exhibition delves deep into the lingering legacies of the past and their profound effect on contemporary life. Featuring a wide array of media, including painting, print, video art, and performance, Kamudzengerere invites audiences to reflect on the burdens of inheritance - both personal and collective.
Kamudzengerere’s exploration of historical legacies is not bound to a single medium. “I chose different kinds of media because inheritance is always looking at the past,” he explains. “But it’s also about how we evolve and what we carry forward to the future.” For Kamudzengerere, each medium offers a unique lens through which to engage with the nuances of history. Printmaking, for example, allows him to reflect on the traditional while pushing toward new, evolving narratives. This mixture of old and new symbolizes the complexity of what we inherit—traditions, responsibilities, and burdens—and how these legacies shape not only individuals but entire societies.
In Our Father’s Inheritance, Kamudzengerere navigates the tension between personal and collective memory. He reflects on the roles his ancestors played and how their experiences, both positive and negative, have been passed down. “Inheritance seems personal,” he notes, “like what I’m getting from my father. But there are also responsibilities that come with it—what we inherit from our ancestors, from our history, and even from our culture.” Kamudzengerere uses this understanding to question commonly held beliefs about what inheritance means, challenging the viewer to consider what they, too, have inherited—be it freedom, oppression, tradition, or trauma.

Through his work, Kamudzengerere addresses the unresolved traumas of the past that continue to manifest in today’s world. He draws attention to the complexities of independence, colonialism, and the way historical legacies still influence contemporary Zimbabwean society. “I was born after independence, but I’m inheriting that legacy. At the same time, the history of colonialism is also entwined with that inheritance,” he remarks. The artist grapples with these contradictions, presenting the viewer with an opportunity to reflect on their own position within these larger historical frameworks.
One of the most captivating elements of the exhibition is Kamudzengerere’s use of performance. He views performance as a direct, immersive form of communication. “It’s participatory. People are in the space, experiencing it. It’s real and immediate,” he says. Kamudzengerere sees African culture as inherently performative, from the traditional rituals surrounding marriage and death to the everyday interactions within communities. In Our Father’s Inheritance, these performances are a way to bring viewers closer to the themes he explores, particularly those related to inherited legacies that continue to shape behavior and identity today.
Kamudzengerere’s work transcends personal and cultural boundaries, offering universal reflections on power, legacy, and entitlement. “Inheritance is a universal theme,” he says. From the British monarchy to family dynamics in Botswana, the passing down of power and responsibility is a common thread across cultures. Kamudzengerere’s exploration of entitlement—what we believe we are owed from our ancestors—touches on profound issues of justice, fairness, and expectation. He gives the example of the late Oliver Mtukudzi and the challenges faced by his family after his death, illustrating how inheritance can divide as much as it unites.
Despite the weight of these themes, Kamudzengerere sees art as a potential avenue for healing. He views his work as an opportunity to engage viewers in meaningful reflection, hoping they leave with a sense of clarity, or at least a desire to think critically about their own inherited legacies. “I want people to think about themselves and the legacies around them,” he says. “It’s a very sensitive theme, but it’s also very healing.”

As the exhibition unfolds, Kamudzengerere looks ahead to the next chapter of his exploration of heritage. He remains deeply concerned with the legacy of colonialism, particularly the looting of African cultural artifacts. “I need a visa to see things that belong in Africa,” he laments, referring to visits to European museums housing Zimbabwean heritage. This ongoing issue of repatriation is something the artist plans to explore further, as it ties closely to the themes of loss and reclamation present throughout his work.
Our Father’s Inheritance Does Not Allow Us to Sleep is a bold, thought-provoking exhibition that challenges viewers to confront their own inherited legacies. Kamudzengerere’s work, with its combination of personal reflection, cultural critique, and global perspective, leaves a lasting impact. At its core, it asks an essential question: How do we carry forward the legacies we inherit, and how do we reconcile with the weight they impose on us?
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