“Mutoro Wenguva” (The Burden of Time)
Medium
PaintingMaterial
Mixed MediaDescription
In “Mutoro Wenguva”, Keith Zenda presents a quietly powerful portrait of childhood responsibility in Zimbabwe. A young boy sits on a stool, holding a smaller child — likely a sibling — firmly but gently, his arms encircling them with protective strength far beyond his years. His gaze, cast to the side, is full of quiet endurance and awareness, perhaps reflecting the emotional toll of growing up too soon.
The layered magazine text beneath the painting — obscured yet still legible — becomes a visual metaphor for the buried stories and unseen pressures young caretakers face in societies where roles often shift due to poverty, migration, or loss. The scraped-out bowl in the background speaks to hunger not just for food, but for time, rest, and freedom.
His expression is not angry nor defeated, but thoughtful — almost as if he understands the magnitude of his role. In Shona culture, older siblings often become second parents, especially in rural or under-resourced settings.Try it!
