Both men had been closely involved with the design of the building and were delighted with the result; a large, open, modern space which made use of natural light and could be divided into smaller areas through the use of temporary partitions. On entering, one looked across a grassed patio and columns, straight through to the city park with its rolling lawns and graceful, stately trees. Leonora Barta, the artist who had made the mosaic for the courtyard of La Rochelle, was working on a similarly arresting design for the Gallery’s exterior – all whirling geometric shapes and bold colours. It would be finished just in time for the opening, which promised to be a grand affair. The Queen Mother was going to perform the ceremony during a planned two-week visit to the Federation.

Stephen had also seen the studio of the African artists, now called the Workshop School. Painting and drawing had been superseded by sculpture and the studio was operating unofficially in the Gallery’s basement. Frank had made this work by hiring one of the artists, Thomas Mukarobgwa, as a cleaner; a necessary action under the current regime.

Stephen was shown around by another artist, Bernard Matemera, a humble, humorous and patient soul. They looked at animals, people, spirits and creatures from dreams. The works were crafted from local stone such as soapstone, serpentinite and verdite, which were full of colour and texture. Each piece had vital living truthfulness.

Matemera explained that the untrained carvers worked in the same way as Picasso, sometimes spending many days ‘dreaming’ a sculpture complete to the last detail, then executing it at speed. He told Stephen that the Shona people believed every rock contained a spirit essence that influenced how the stone would be shaped and carved.

‘The spirits are everywhere in the air and in the rocks,’ he said in his deep, slow voice. ‘A rock is like a fruit – like an orange or a banana. You don’t eat them without peeling them first. It needs to be opened to be eaten. I open the rocks. The work is inside.’

It had been a tremendous day, made even better by the long-awaited arrival of the rains. Stephen had been elated until he got home and saw the Umtali Post:

NIGHT OF VIOLENCE

Police vehicles and buildings were stoned, and several people were injured on Monday night in Sakubva Township, where Mr Joshua Nkomo, leader of the African National Congress, addressed a meeting in the Methodist Church Hall. Twelve arrests were made during a three-hour riot.

A police spokesman said that Mr Nkomo arrived late on Monday afternoon and went to the Church Hall. A crowd of between 800 and 1,000 people gathered. Certain elements of the crowd, believed to be supporters of rival nationalist Ndabaningi Sithole, heckled Mr Nkomo and intimidated his followers. Later, small gangs broke away from the main crowd and some indiscriminate stoning of police vehicles was reported.