Join us to view an inspiring and engaging art exhibition aimed at examining colonial legacies and advocating for restorative justice.

Inspired by Oxford Rhodes Must Fall 2020 and Black Lives Matter, a group of friends from East Oxford and Harare, Zimbabwe set up Oxford Zimbabwe Arts Partnership (OZAP) to counter the statue of Cecil Rhodes on Oriel’s High Street building with sculpture commissioned from Zimbabwe.

The project comes to fruition with the opening of an exhibition on Friday 3 October at Oriel College (High Street entrance). The exhibit will transfer to University Church from 10 October – 7 December.

At the heart of the exhibition are the four winning artworks from a competition run by OZAP earlier this year at the Chitungwiza Arts Centre. These works celebrate the resilience of indigenous Zimbabweans in the face of colonial violence since the days of Cecil Rhodes.

Chitungwiza is a large, high-density town outside Harare, sometimes referred to as Zimbabwe’s Soweto. A young filmmaker and team from the area have produced a powerful 13-minute documentary,
“Never Again”, which will run on a loop within the exhibition.

OZAP hopes to organise showings with discussions during the autumn. The project and upcoming exhibition have already attracted global media attention.

Featured Artist

Overall Winner: Wallace Mkankha, 34, born in Chitungwiza. His winning piece, Blindfolded Justice, offers a poignant reflection on Zimbabwe’s colonial past.

The stone sculpture represents the cruel legacy of Cecil John Rhodes in Zimbabwe. The face, shrouded in anguish, symbolizes the suffering of the Zimbabwean people.
The two hands covering the eyes signify the forced blindness to the truth as Rhodes’ regime imposed its oppressive rule.
The two hands struggling to remove the blindfold represent the resilience and determination of the Zimbabwean people to break free from oppression.
This poignant piece serves as a reminder of the brutal history inflicted upon Zimbabwe and honours the victims of Rhodes’ cruelty.
It also symbolizes the ongoing quest for justice, equality, and peace.

Exhibition Dates & Venues

03 – 08 October, 2025
Oriel College (High Street entrance) | 10AM – 4PM
Admission: Free

10 October – 07 December, 2025
University Church | 10AM – 5PM
Admission: Free