Lavar Munroe-Kurova Guva at Jack Bell Gallery

The Jack Bell Gallery’s latest exhibition featuring the latest creations by Lavar Munroe, marking his ninth solo exhibition in collaboration with the gallery. During a recent sojourn to Zimbabwe, Munroe was granted a unique opportunity to participate in an all-night ritual ceremony. This ceremony involved members of an extended family coming together to invoke communication with the spirit of a departed woman. The event unfolded through traditional 'Mbira' music, rhythmic drumming, heartfelt clapping, synchronized dance, a feast of assorted food items (including vegetables, meat, and 'sadza' – a cornmeal dish), tobacco snuff, and the consumption of a locally brewed beer named 'Seven Days.'

These ritual elements converged to enable the participants to reestablish a connection with the spirit of the woman, who had passed away a year prior. This particular ceremony is known as a Bira, and the central act of the ceremony is referred to as Kurova Guva, signifying the act of 'calling the spirit from the grave.' In his latest body of work, Munroe embarks on an exploration of the profound cultural practice of Kurova Guva, which is employed by the Shona People of Zimbabwe and neighboring regions to 'summon the spirits of the departed.'

This investigation involves Munroe immersing himself in the traditional Zimbabwean customs associated with Bira and Kurova Guva, with the intention of delving into the realms of ritual, belief systems, spirituality, ancestral connections, and communal unity. It is believed that, through enigmatic music and captivating dance, the spirit of the ancestor is enticed back to the community where she resided during her earthly life. The presence of a spirit medium serves as a conduit, channeling the voices of the ancestor spirits to the assembled attendees. Central to the Shona culture is the veneration of ancestors, and the 'bira' ceremony is primarily conducted to receive guidance and insights from these ancestral spirits.

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