By Ndumiso Tshuma
The Fulbright Programme, one of 23 U.S.-sponsored exchange initiatives promoting collaboration between Zimbabwe and the United States, is playing a key role in deepening cultural understanding between the two nations.
Among its latest achievements is a new photography exhibition celebrating Zimbabwe’s rich artistic heritage, highlighting the growing cultural bridge between the two countries.
Dr Jennifer W Kyker, a professor of ethnomusicology at the Arthur Satz Department of Music at the University of Rochester in New York, has been based in Harare since September 2024. She has partnered with the National Gallery of Zimbabwe to showcase the work of Zimbabwean photojournalist Chicago Dzviti.
Born in 1961 in the rural district of Shamva, Dzviti began his photography career in the late 1980s and has amassed a collection of over 4,000 images, one of the largest archives of its kind outside the National Archives of Zimbabwe.
Speaking on Friday at the Natural History Museum in Bulawayo, Dr Kyker explained that the Chicago Dzviti Photographic Collection features powerful images taken during the early 1990s, offering a vivid portrayal of Zimbabwean life and culture.
“The Chicago Dzviti photograph collection was taken in the early 1990s. He captured over 4,000 images, making it one of the largest photographic collections outside the National Archives of Zimbabwe. The project involves assembling an exhibition of these photographs at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Harare, titled Portrait of Zimbabwe,” said Dr Kyker.
She noted that the exhibition also plays a role in strengthening economic and political relations between Zimbabwe and the United States by promoting the circulation and appreciation of cultural heritage.
“The physical exhibition will be accompanied by a digital showcase for audiences outside Zimbabwe. This initiative is part of a broader effort to build bilateral economic and political ties between Zimbabwe and the United States through the production, circulation, and consumption of cultural heritage,” she said.
Dr Kyker added that the exhibition underscores the importance of maintaining a balance between industrialisation and the preservation of artistic traditions.
“Part of the purpose of this project is to expand the notion of international trade, it should not only involve industrialisation but also include traditional culture, crafts, and fine arts, which can sometimes be endangered by industrial models. It’s about striking a balance between economic growth and safeguarding cultural expression,” she said.
Pamela Tremont, the U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe, said Dr Kyker is one of only two Americans currently in Zimbabwe conducting Fulbright programmes, while 145 Zimbabweans are studying and teaching in the United States under U.S. government support.
“We believe these exchanges help bring our countries closer together, contribute to discovery, and enhance prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic,” said Ambassador Tremont.