Chapungu: Custom & Legend, A Culture in Stone
Chicago Botanic Garden and Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance Co-Present
May 31 through Oct. 31, 2003

 
a definition …
 
Chapungu (chä-po¯o¯n´-go¯o¯) n. 1. Metaphor for the Bateleur eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus), the most famous of the snake eagles, commonly found throughout Africa south of the Sahara. Bateleur is French for “tightrope-walker.” The eagle probably earned its name for its distinctive aerial acrobatics. Bateleur eagles spend eight to nine hours a day in the air looking for food, which consists of antelope, mice, birds and snakes. Its pitch-black feathers with white under the wings, bright red face and legs, and black beak are characteristic markings. Unlike most creatures, female Bateleur eagles are larger than males. The Shona people of Zimbabwe, Africa, believe Bateleur eagles bring good luck and protection. 2. A collection of contemporary Zimbabwe stone sculptures, which is the highly expressive art of the Shona people of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Africa. Hand-carved works are made of serpentine, verdite, opal, cobalt and springstone, and vary in shades of yellow, brown, red, green and gray.