Born in 1985 within the rural confines of Gutu, Zimbabwe, Blessings was raised in a farming community where his affinity for wood carving took root. Early on, Blessing found himself fashioning practical items like cattle yokes, ploughs, cooking sticks, and even mouse traps using little more than an axe.
In 2004, Blessing recognized the opportunity to enhance his skills and enrolled in a three-year Woodcarving Course at Driefontein Mission in Masvingo. Through dedicated learning and persistent practice, he refined his abilities, gradually shaping a path to a promising future.
Hohodza, the Shona word for "the natural carver", a Woodpecker, comes from the sound the bird makes while hammering rapidly on a resonating dead tree.
Surprisingly, Woodpeckers do not get headaches from banging on trees!
Just like the Woodpecker Bird uses only his beak, Blessing Gapa, the Master Craftsman and carver behind Hohodza, uses his hands and a limited number of hand tools to create ethnic masterpieces from sustainably sourced wood.
