Lionel Mbayiwa

Lionel Tazvitya Mbayiwa was born, bred and educated in rural Mhondoro, Mubaira under Chegutu District in Zimbabwe in 1982. Born in a family seven, he attended Nyangwene Primary Shool and Rio Tinto Mhondoro High School before moving to the capital, Harare in 1999 after completing his High school. He did not attend any formal art school but was taught and influenced by his elder brother, Hugh Hatitye Mbayiwa who was an art teacher then and got help from his brother's friends who were already in the art industry, James Jali and Nhavira Tendai around the year 2003. In 2005 he participated in a group show for the first time at Gallery Delta in Harare as a young artist, he exhibited with them until 2009. During those years he was also exhibiting at the Zimbabwe National Gallery.