Reinata Sadimba

**Reinata Sadimba** (born 1945) be a Mozambican ceramicist wey dey produce work wey originate insyd traditional Makonde pottery, while she dey incorporate ein own techniques den conceptions of femininity den motherhood. She be considered among de most important contemporary sculptors insyd Mozambique.
## Biography
Na dem born Reinata Sadimba insyd Nemu, a village insyd Mueda, Mozambique, insyd 1945. She receive a traditional Makonde education, wich include she dey make useful objects out of clay. She learn de art of ceramics from ein mommie, plus de initial aim of make she dey provide for ein family after ein poppie die wen na she be very young. However, she eventually found dat working plus clay allow am make she "say things that I did not know how to express in any other way."

As a young woman, Sadimba join FRELIMO, an armed resistance movement to Portuguese rule insyd Mozambique wey begin insyd 1964. After de Mozambican War of Independence, de country gain independent status insyd 1975.

Na dem mark Sadimba ein work by ein own personal experiences. Na she marry young wey she divorce twice, na she get eight kiddies, one per wey survive. After she lef an abusive marriage insyd 1975, Sadimba revolutionize ein work, wey she begin dey add personalized elements wey distinguish ein pieces from oda Makonde ceramics.

Insyd de 1980s, she collaborate for a rural project plus a Swiss couple wey na dem settle close to Mueda, wer na she dey live for de time. Dis project bring more visibility to ein work. However, as de Mozambican Civil War rage, she emigrate insyd 1985 plus ein only son to Tanzania, wer she live insyd Dar es Salaam plus ein sisto Josefina. Na ebe der wey she begin dey exhibit ein work insyd small galleries den artisanal markets.

De Swiss couple dema continued support give am de financial stability make she experiment artistically plus new techniques den sculpt according to ein own aesthetic den imagination. During ein time insyd Tanzania, she further develop ein stylistic depiction of de human form, while she still dey reflect de Makonde matrilineal universe.

Insyd 1992, after de war end, she return to Mozambique wey she settle insyd Maputo. Der, she receive significant support from Augusto Cabral, na he be de director of de Mozambique Natural History Museum, wey she establish a studio within de museum. Insyd 1998, na dem feature ein work during a weeklong educational program on traditional ceramics for de museum.

Insyd ein work, Sadimba dey use clay as well as white limestone den graphite, wich dey give ein pieces dema characteristic green color. She dey create jugs, pots, den anthropomorphic forms, wich often display scarifications anaa cultural marks typical of de Makonde people. Sadimba einself get a tattooed face, in keeping plus Makonde tradition. Ein ceramics contain layers of meaning wey e dey make reference to stories den legends of ein home province, often dey depict femininity, motherhood, anaa childbirth. She sanso be known for producing pieces incredibly quickly.

Na dem exhibit Sadimba ein work both insyd Mozambique den abroad, wey dey includie insyd South Africa, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, den France. Insyd 2022, na dem name am a Commander of de Order of Prince Henry by de presido of Portugal.

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