Agnes Buya Yombwe (born 18 February 1966) is a

Zambian Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most central point. Its neighbours are th ...

mixed media artist, arts educator, author and mentor. Her artistic practice explores indigenous knowledge systems and especially the Mbusa of Zambia’s Bemba people. She also examines other societies and their response to environmental and socio-political issues facing contemporary society. Through art, symbolism and text, she explores and challenges responses to traditional and changing cultural norms. Her intent is to provoke questions, and to encourage people to engage with stereotypes and norms. Her work focuses on highlighting

taboo A taboo or tabu is a social group's ban, prohibition, or avoidance of something (usually an utterance or behavior) based on the group's sense that it is excessively repulsive, sacred, or allowed only for certain persons.''Encyclopædia Britannica ...

issues such as gender-based violence and myths around menstruation in the African context.

Early years and education

Yombwe was born in Mazabuka on 18 February 1966. She attended Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce in

Lusaka Lusaka (; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Zambia. It is one of the fastest-developing cities in southern Africa. Lusaka is in the southern part of the central plateau at an elevation of about . , the city's population was ab ...

where she specialised in sculpture and graduated in 1994 with an Art Teacher Diploma. She holds a certificate in Art and Design from Wimbledon School of Arts,

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Career

Yombwe began her career in art after she won a drawing competition in high school. She was more than inspired to win the first ever drawing competition. Together with her husband, Lawrence Yombwe, she founded and runs the Wayi Wayi Art Studio and Gallery in

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, where they organise art clubs and workshops for adults and children. Prior to that she taught art at Libala and Matero Boys Secondary Schools in Zambia for 7 years and in

Botswana Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label=Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalahar ...

for 10 years. She has exhibited her works in Zambia, Botswana,

Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...

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, and

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

. She has also undertaken studio residencies at the Edvard Munch in

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, Norway and at the McColl Centre for Visual Art in

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. In 2017, Yombwe was appointed as a board member to the

National Arts Council of Zambia The National Arts Council of Zambia (NAC) is a quasi-government agency established in 1994, which began operating in 1996.Ano ShumbaZambia: Ministry unveils new arts council board ''Music In Africa'', 6 October 2017. Accessed 15 January 2020. The or ...

by the Minister of Arts and held that position until 2019.

Published works

She authored two catalogs: ''Kudumbisiana: 'she is not an artist (2015) ''Ni Mzilo - It is Taboo'' (2019)

Personal life

She is married to Lawrence Yombwe, who is also an artist. She is known with her works in Zambia and Africa Art industry.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yombwe, Agnes Living people 1966 births Zambian painters People from Mazabuka District Zambian sculptors