Fanizani was born in Zambia in 1932 and died in 2011. He relocated to Zimbabwe in 1949 to work as a farm foreman. In 1966, he joined the world-famous Tengenenge Art Community, where Tom Blomfield encouraged him to experiment with stone. This was the start of his long career as a sculptor. For decades, his unique work, which became his trademark, has been exhibited globally. His work is on permanent display at Zimbabwe's National Gallery. Fanizani was a pioneer in the Zimbabwe Sculpture Movement, also known as Shona Stone Sculpture.