Svikiro (Spiritual guardian)
Description
Svikiro (Spiritual Guardian) draws deeply from Zimbabwean spiritual belief, where a svikiro is a sacred medium — a bridge between the living and the ancestral world. Florah Maphosa presents femininity not as fragility, but as spiritual authority: calm, watchful, and profoundly powerful. The woman’s poised posture and direct gaze suggest inner knowing — a presence shaped by intuition rather than force.
The bird hovering above her head evokes ancestral messengers, often believed to carry guidance, protection, and unseen wisdom. Its wings spread like a crown, reinforcing the idea of guardianship and divine alignment. Draped in a softly coloured, floral garment, the figure embodies life, fertility, and renewal — symbols long associated with womanhood in African cosmology. The contrast between the dark, grounded body and the luminous fabric reflects the balance between the physical and spiritual realms.Try it!
