RADAR: SHOPS

From sculpture to silverware, paintings to pottery, Kumba is a standout store which has something for everyone

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PHOTO: SIMON DE SWARDT

When it comes to home décor, I am firmly of the philosophy that if there’s a space, fill it. But having said that, the only trend I can’t get behind is the scatter cushion. Used to prop up a weary soul on a sofa, fine — but it has no place on a bed, especially when you have to move it on and off again morning and night for no apparent reason. What’s more, having to rearrange your soft furnishings in the heat of the moment is a total mood-killer.

Every inch of my house is adorned in one way or another. Bowls, candle holders, weird bits of wood carving and oriental urns sit three deep on my shelves (lovely to look at, an absolute nightmare to dust). It comes as no surprise, then, that Kumba is one of my favourite shops in Harare.

Nestled among Umwinsidale’s forest of msasas, Kumba is a veritable treasure trove of design and décor. “The reason people come here is because our things are so different and a little bit whacky,” says Esther Ilsink, who runs Kumba. She’s right — there is something for everyone here.

Bright ceramics sit side by side with hand-crafted leather backgammon boards; traditional basketware is overlooked by lights made from cleverly repurposed fire extinguishers. Upcycling is a key part of Kumba’s business. Esther has an excellent eye for finding forgotten pieces and bringing them back to life: old armchairs are revamped with bold Zimbabwean fabrics, Fifties sideboards are lovingly restored to their former glory. There are statement coffee tables made from old Tonga doors, and unused oil drums have been re-imagined into abstract animal sculptures.

Kumba is also a wonderful place to experience the breadth of Zimbabwean art. From the striking modernity of Mukudzei Muzondo’s canvasses on the shop walls, to Crispen Matekenya’s take on the traditional totem in the yard outside, you can get a true sense of the originality of this country’s art scene. “Every piece tells a story,” says Esther. “It hasn’t been made just for the sake of producing something. There is meaning to everything in this shop.”

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the gardens of Kumba where striking Shona stone sculptures, enormous seed-pod wind chimes and life-size tin-can statues provide perfect company while you take a break from emptying your bank account. Esther and Allard provide a pot of tea or coffee for free; all they ask is that you leave a donation, 100 per cent of which goes to Zimbabwe’s children’s cancer charity, KidzCan.
Kumba is a very special shop, run by very special people, and you definitely won’t come out empty-handed. Trust me, I’ve tried.

Kumba, 34 Haslemere Lane, Umwinsidale, Harare. Call: +263 774 125 363.
Email: esther.ilsink@gmail.com
Visit: www.kumbahomeandgifts.com

Words by Milly McPhie

‘THE REASON THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO COME AND VISIT KUMBA IS BECAUSE OUR THINGS ARE SO DIFFERENT AND A BIT WHACKY’