Washington was a finalist (one of four) in the sculpture category in the prestigious National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) 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 2003 Washington joined Chitungwiza Arts Centre, which was created to give young artists like him somewhere stable to work. As a member with his own workspace, he could now work on bigger pieces and his cousin encouraged him to experiment.

From then on, Washington introduced his knots and twisting style into the sculpture.