Korona yedzvinyu
Description
In “Korona yedzvinyu,” Florah Maphosa draws on Zimbabwean beliefs where the lizard (dzvinyu) is seen as a silent messenger moving between sunlight and shadow, the physical world and the spirit realm. Perched on a glowing blue sphere, the lizard symbolizes renewal, intuition, and ancestral protection, echoing the Shona idea that its presence carries warnings, blessings or shifts in energy.
The woman’s divided face—part realistic, part abstract—reflects the two realms of African cosmology: the body (muviri) and the inner spirit (mweya). Her contrasting eyes suggest dual sight, the ability to perceive both the visible world and the unseen forces shaping it. The textured earrings evoke cultural lineage and feminine strength.
Together, woman and lizard become a single symbol of instinct, identity and spiritual balance, showing how nature and human consciousness remain deeply interconnected in Zimbabwean life.Try it!
