Utongi WeJongwe - The Rooster’s Dominion
Medium
PaintingMaterial
Oil PaintDescription
In Zimbabwean heritage, the rooster is more than a creature that crows at dawn. It is a messenger of time, a herald of new beginnings, and a symbol of masculine pride and authority. Its crow announces the break of night into day, linking it to cycles of life, vigilance, and the order of society. In many tales, the rooster embodies both power and warning—its voice commands attention, its presence asserts dominance.
This painting dramatizes that symbolism: a colossal rooster chases grown men who scatter in fear, reversing ordinary roles. The exaggerated scale represents its elevated status in African culture—guardian of the homestead, keeper of order, and symbol of resilience. The men’s flight echoes society’s confrontation with forces greater than itself: tradition, authority, and nature’s undeniable voice. By magnifying the rooster, the artist reminds us of its revered place in Zimbabwean storytelling, where it stands as a timeless figure of respect, pride, and awakening.Try it!
