BOOK REVIEWS 201students and scholars of Christian history and theology in Africa, inparticular Malawi.University of Zimbabwe P. GUNDANIStreet Sellers of Zimbabwe Stone Sculpture Š Artists and EntrepreneursBy C. & M. C. Kileff. Gweru, Mambo Press, 1996, 68 pp., Illustr., ISBN 0-86922-637-1, Z$96.This short work is unusual among the growing literature on Shona stonesculpture in two ways. It is written by an anthropologist rather than an artcritic; and it deals with artists selling on the streets and generally unknown,even despised, by the professional critics.The first half of the book comprises an introduction to ways in whichthe works of unknown artists may be sold, principally to tourists, aroundZimbabwe. Many of the themes are covered through vignettes of particularartists. The substance of the book is the brief autobiographical profilesgiven by 14 artists in and around Harare, together with those of threesellers and one White South African artist, who also sells Shona sculpture,in Cape Town. There is a final chapter that questions the distinctionbetween the high art to be found in galleries and the sculptures found oncity streets.In a book of this size the narratives and the analysis are necessarilybrief. References are limited, and do not always tally with the bibliography.Nevertheless, the book is welcome for the points it raises. The Kileffsshow the importance of the entrepreneurial skills of the artists, and theeconomic significance of their work in their lives. On the other hand, thenarratives of several of the sculptors also show an artistic dedication totheir craft. Although stone sculpture is relatively new in Shona history, itcan provide an authentic expression of the perceptions of Shona artists.Art is essentially creative. Although carvers presented in this work doborrow ideas and designs from others, they are also innovative at times.A key issue, which the book opens up rather than resolves, is therelationship between the art of the galleries, and the items sold by streetvendors and curio shops. About five percent of sculptors achieve the elitecircles of galleries: others are left on the periphery, not necessarily due tolack of talent. The Kileffs present Tago, a sculptor and street seller whocommented on the exclusiveness of the elitist galleries. He only managedto get his works into a gallery when they were given to a promoter by arenowned artist.The book is easy to read and well illustrated, and I recommend it as arefreshing balance to works that emphasize the elite in Shona sculpture.202 BOOK REVIEWSWe need a fuller and more thorough investigation into the sociology ofShona sculpture. If this book provokes such a study, it will have served afurther useful purpose.University of Zimbabwe M. F. C. BOURDILLONThe Gender Dimensions of Urban Poverty: The Case of Dzivarasekwa ByNeddy R. Matshalaga, Harare, Institute of Development Studies, Universityof Zimbabwe, 1997, 50 pp.The Gender Dimensions of Urban Poverty: The Case of Tafara By NeddyR. Matshalaga, Harare, Institute of Development Studies, University ofZimbabwe, 1997, 51 pp.These two short pieces provide basic data on household economies intwo of Harare's high-density suburbs. Each is based largely on a survey of320 households. Although there was an attempt to randomise the samples,it is not clear how the population, including those living in rented shacks,was established. The survey comprised a questionnaire that includedsuch topics as household size, income, education, use of health facilities,food and accommodation. There were also questions on perceptions ofpoverty and its causes. The survey data were supported by informalinterviews and discussions, from which some short extracts appear. Butthere is no mention of whether or how verbal answers to questions wereverified in any of the cases.The reports largely present descriptive statistics of the results of thesurveys, paying particular attention to differences according to the genderof the household heads but with little attention to further analysis. Thesample in Tafara is on average much poorer and less educated than that inDzivarasekwa. As an indication of poverty in Tafara we find over half thechildren of school-going age are out of school, which is disturbing for thelong-term future of the community. Around 60 per cent of men claim not tobe getting enough food in both samples (slightly fewer in Tafara); 65 percent of women in Dzivarasekwa make the same claim as do 75 per cent inTafara. The author does not offer a systematic comparison of thecommunities nor an analysis of the differences.Although the reports are limited in both data and analysis, it is usefulto have such descriptive data on the quality of life in high-density suburbsof Harare. It is right that we should be disturbed by such data.University of Zimbabwe PROFESSOR M. F. C. BOURDILLON