A dozen cars, including a Mazda 3, a BMW convertible, trucks and vans, are visible in the spacious compound with a house looking more like a palace than a home of an ordinary artist. Looking at his lifestyle Harare sculptor Dominic Benhura may be forgiven if he ever boasts that he is the greatest African artist alive. His home is decorated with green grass, like a golf course, giant sculptors, swimming pool, and makes of cars many people anywhere in the world can only dream of.
The slender and humble looking artist has his sculptures to thank for his two homes, one of which he has converted into an art centre where numerous Zimbabweans and Malawians meet to learn sculpture-making skills to earn a living. In fact Benhura says in the last few years he has produced 10 artists who went on to buy their own houses in Harare and live like kings, like him. If ever one doubted the potential of the arts to make one live his dream life, Benhura is the perfect example that with the arts, even BMW dreams and kingly homes are achievable.
