Steel girl: Tough and creative

Safina Kimbokota is a pioneer in a predominately male art form - the metal arts. She works with metal, designing and making furniture, mirrors, curtain poles and other objects.

As a metal sculptor, she also produces architectural work for private individuals and businesses. She is arguably one of the most outstanding female metal artists of our time. In this interview, she shares her story with Success:

As a metal sculpture, what is it that you do?

As a sculptor, inventor and artist my work involves making castings and sculptures from iron scrap that are creating symbolic and conceptual metal artworks for interior and exterior use.

How long have you been doing this?

Ever since I was a child I always loved to create and make things. My mother was a designer, and so she inspired me also. That was the beginning of my lifetime career.

What did you study in school?

After completing my primary education, I went to Uganda for secondary education.

There, I studied fine art. And after completing my secondary education I joined the Bagamoyo College of Arts for three years for a diploma in fine arts as well. From there, I joined the University of Dar es Salaam in 2008 for a degree in fine and performing arts.

I also did painting, colouring, graphic design and contemporary African arts.

Why did you major in metal sculpture?

When I was in my first year, I had an opportunity to attend a work shop organised for women who engaged themselves in metal sculpturing. That motivated me to major in painting and metal in my final year at UDSM.

What is it that you like about your work?

The fact that I get to do something that I like, enjoy and feel comfortable doing. I do a lot of things such as painting and designing, but metal sculpture is the thing for me.

What challenges do you face in your career? How do you tackle them?

Working under pressure, with dangerous materials such as metals, fire. It’s also a tough market. But what I do is, I try to network a lot with people, and also participate in exhibitions because I believe it is there where I could market my work.

And how much can one expect to earn?

Most sculptors are self-employed. So, what they earn depends on how established they are and the number of projects they get.

Where can one go for the course?

Bagamoyo University or the University of Dar es Salaam.

Email: [email protected]