About Us

In the language of the Shona People of Zimbabwe, mbare (pronounced "im-bah-ree") means "a gathering of things" or "a marketplace". I grew up in Harare, Zimbabwe, and Mbare Ltd grew out of my desire to create a sustainable source of income for Zimbabwean artists. While I don't consider myself to be particularly artistic, I have always had an appreciation for local art found at roadside markets, in urban workshops, or at the homes of talented craftspeople. The artistic skills that Zimbabweans possess are often passed down through generations and represent an accumulation of knowledge and talent. Getting to know families that engage in this work has been a privilege for me.

When I began the business in 1993, I chose the name Mujibha Exports - mujhiba means "messenger" in Shona - because I saw exporting art as a way of communicating the creaticity and culture of my home to the rest of the world. I collected items from Mbare Musika, Harare's most popular craft market. During my first country-wide buying trip, I brought along Menson (my first employee), as well as David and Anton (my two best friends). We took off towards the east in the "Yellow Peril", a tiny Nissan truck that is still a part of out business today. We collected beautiful wood carvings at roadside markets in the east and south of Zimbabwe, and then we dropped these off in Harare and traveled on to Karoi. In the Zimbabwe valley, I fell in love with the baskets and hand-carved stools of the Tonga tribe. We bought several pieces, and then continued to Victoria Falls, well-known as a natural wonder but also for the olivewood and mukwa giraffes that artisans sell nearby.

   Today, my family runs Mujibha Exports out of Harare, and I import the art through Mbare Ltd, which is located in Georgia (USA). We've come a long way since my first buyin trip, and now we source out products from individual artists, cooperatives, and business in Zimbabwe, Kenya, and South Africa. Your purchase of our products provides stable employment for the artists we work with, many of whom have large extended families to provide for. All of our products are handmade, and while no two are exactly alike, each is a uniquw creation of high quality.

Thanks for your support,

Robbie Stewart
Owner/President
Mbare, Ltd