Context:

Stary Mwaba, a leading Zambian visual artist, delves into the hazardous legacy of the 'black mountains' in Zambia's Copperbelt through his poignant artwork. As a child, Mwaba and his peers would venture into these forbidden mining waste sites, now targeted by young men for copper ore despite the perilous conditions and high youth unemployment in the region. His art, showcased at the Lusaka National Museum, captures the lives of these miners known as 'jerabos', highlighting their dangerous work and personal stories. Mwaba uses old newspapers as canvases, burning and painting over them to symbolize the erosion of grand narratives and the emergence of personal stories. His journey from a family of miners to an artist began after a science project with his daughter, leading to his critically acclaimed 'Chinese Cabbage' artwork, which critiques Chinese influence in Zambia's mining sector and shifts focus to the struggles of the black mountain community.

Dive Deeper:

• Stary Mwaba's artwork explores the toxic legacy of Zambia's 'black mountains', massive mining waste heaps that are both a health hazard and a source of income for many young men in the Copperbelt, who risk their lives to extract copper ore amidst high unemployment rates.

• The artist's latest collection, exhibited at the Lusaka National Museum, features portraits of young miners and residents of the Wusakile neighborhood, using old newspapers as canvases to depict 'little narratives' that contrast with the dominant stories, highlighting the individual struggles within the larger mining context.

• Mwaba employs a unique technique of burning and painting over newspaper articles to create art that questions the grand narratives surrounding mining, while emphasizing the importance of personal stories of the local people affected by the mining industry's environmental and social impact.

• Originally inspired by a school project with his daughter, Mwaba turned to art to critique the Chinese presence in Zambia's mining sector, gaining international recognition for his work that uses symbols like dyed Chinese cabbage leaves to represent key mining commodities.

• The artist's return to Kitwe, a place from his childhood, revealed significant socio-economic changes and poverty, prompting him to shift focus from Chinese involvement to the personal stories of those living near the black mountains, who face harsh realities and limited opportunities.

• Mwaba's paintings, such as 'Jerabo' and 'Boss for a Day', depict the dangerous and exploitative conditions faced by young miners and reflect the hierarchical and often criminal nature of the mining operations controlled by wealthy jerabos.

• Through workshops and community engagement, Mwaba's art not only raises awareness but also offers a platform for local individuals to express their aspirations, occasionally influencing positive changes in the lives of those involved in the mining community.