Madala – Waiting for Tomorrow
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Created around 1990, Madala – Waiting for Tomorrow is an early example of Sampson Kuvenguhwa’s Mapiti style and a meditation on age, patience and the passage of time.
An elderly man — a Madala — sits beneath a tree, his body bent forward and his head lowered. He is not defeated, nor has his journey ended. He is simply resting, waiting for whatever tomorrow may bring.
Above him, the tree suggests protection, continuity and the cycle of life, while the old man carries the experience and memories of a long journey. Kuvenguhwa’s elongated lines and flowing forms allow human, nature and spirit to merge, anticipating ideas later developed in his Dry Tree style.
At its heart, the sculpture presents a universal image: an old man carrying yesterday’s memories, resting in the present and waiting patiently for tomorrow. Old age is not portrayed as an ending. The Madala remains part of life’s journey — he has simply reached a moment where patience has replaced haste.Try it!
