Washington was a finalist in the sculpture category in Zimbabwe’s prestigious National Arts Merit Awards competition in 2013 and 2009.
In 2006, Washington was a finalist in the Young Sculptor Awards (organised by African Millennium Foundation) and he was the winner of the men’s section of the ‘Creativity and Originality’ exhibition at Chitungwiza Arts Centre, judged by Dominic Benhura and Celia Winter-Irving amongst others.
Washington Matafi was born in 1981 in Wedza, Zimbabwe. He started stone carving in 2000, as an apprentice to his cousin the well-known ‘second generation’ artist Elvis Mamvura.
In 2001 he started working alone and he quickly developed his own style. In 2004 he joined the Chitungwiza Art Centre and has become renowned for his own abstract styles .In 2005 he won First prize on the exhibition of Creativity and Originality; in 2006 became a Finalist on the Exhibition for Young Sculptor Award; in 2007 he won Second Prize on the Modern Abstract, all three awards at Exhibitions done by Chitungwiza Arts Centre.
His work is found in many galleries and private art collections around the world for instance Britain, America, Germany, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa and in local Harare Galleries.