Tinga Tinga Artists on Tinga Tinga Studio

as they appear on Tinga Tinga Studio! Please note, that this page is under construction and the list of artists is not updated and some links may be broken.

The painters are devided in 9 groups, each group populated by ca 4 artists. Learn more about the artists!

- These artists create new paintings within the traditional Tinga Tinga designs.

S.Omary

Maybe the most creative artist who works within the frame of the "traditional" Tinga Tinga art is Saidi Om ary. He uses the same elements in a playful way. Many Tinga Tinga painters learn to paint a giraffe in one position, but Saidi paints living, loving, sleeping, crying giraffes. He is not repeating the designs, maybe only if you ask him to do it. Saidi has shared with me a story about his Christian mother and Muslim father which was published in the book "Tingatinga - Kitch or Art" in 2010. Go to TingaTingaStories.com to read it.

Mbuka

Abassy Mbuka is the Vice Chairman of the Tinga Tinga Cooperative. He was born in Dar es Salaam in 1975. His mother is from Kondoa District and father from Iringa. Unfortunately his father Asukile Kiando dissapeared when Mbuka was still small child. Nobody knows what happened. When Mbuka was older he started to look for his father but without success. His father was a journalist in radio Tanzania. In fact the case of Mbuka´s father finished at court lead by his brother Asheli Kiando. Mbuka learned about Tinga Tinga from Salum Mussa, Mzee Lumumba. On the photo on your right side you see Mbuka in front of image of E.S.Tingatinga. (by J.Kirknaes). The photo was taken on exhibtion in Denmark.

Mkumba

Mkumba Steven is the only painter in the Tinga Tinga Cooperative who is of Makonde tribe, not of Makua tribe like most of the painters. Makonde people are known for their great wood sculptures made of the black ebony tree. Mkumba has his own distinctive Tinga Tinga style, but yet not so easy to spot by a layman. Some of his paintings depict violent scenes both in the animal and human "kingdom". One of his paintings was rejected by 2010 Fine Art company which licensed the images to FIFA World Cup 2010 (TM) because it showed the police beating people. Mkumba is definitelly an artist who projects his soul into his art! Currently Mkumba takes care about the economy of Tinga Tinga Cooperative.

Iddi

One day when I was sitting and painting at the Tinga Tinga cooperative a man sudenly came to me. He was a mzungu and his name was Paul Joynson-Hicks. He asked us several questions. Finally he told me. You will climb the mountain Kilimanjaro. It was in 1998 in November. We took airplane from Dar es Salaam to Moshi and then climber the mountain. But not all of us reached there. Only three out of the 5 people succeeded. When we reached on the top, Paul took out a bottle of beer and started to open it as if it was at the marriage party. He said: “Now we establish officially the brand of Kibo Gold beer.

- These artists are among the few who push the Tinga Tinga art ahead. They are creative.

Zuberi

My name is Zuberi Daimu, I was born at Mtonya village, Tunduru district in Ruvuma region, south Tanzania in 1973. In 1980 I started primary school. But I failed to complete primary school because of family problems. In 1983 I dropped from school in this year my father had mentality problem and my mother failed to pay my school expenses and she was taking care of my father. After five years my mother died and I was raised by my mother’s cousin who was living in Dar es Salaam because of hard life which she had she failed to support me in education expenses.

Mpochogo

Mpochogo is born in the village Mangaka, 10 km West of Masasi in South Tanzania in 1974. He is of Makua tribe but not from the Tinga Tinga family. When he came to Dar es Salaam he worked first as a security guard but his older brother Saidi Paulo convinced him to leave the job and become a professional painter. On the question why he paints he answers: “ I paint in order to sell the paintings and get money to sustain my family”. Mpochogo seems to have no other motivation to do the art work than to get more customers, to get more income. When enquired if he ever breathes some ideas or messages into his paintings he says that he shows through his painting the unity between the animals which is reflected in the repetitive pattern of animals on his paintings.

Abdallah

Abdallah is the Chairman of the Tinga Tinga Cooperative. He is from Tunduru District, southern Tanzania. His father was Makonde, the famous tribe known for its excellent wood carvers and his mother was Makua – the tribe to which most Tinga Tinga artists belong. He completed Primary school in Nakapanya and came to Dar es Salaam in 1988 and started working as a mechanic’s assistant. After one year he left the mechanic and became an apprentice to his uncle Saidi Chilamboni, an established Tinga Tinga painter, following his life-long passion for art. Abdallah has participated in various Tinga Tinga exhibitions in Tanzania as well as in Belgium, France and Germany.

Mustapha

Mustapha was born in 1975 and started to paint in 1998. His teacher was Suleyaman Marida. Mustapha paints in his distinctive style. On the left photo Mustapha (left) paints with Mrope Bavoni

- These artists succeeded with few attractive designs which are extremely popular among the customers

Rubuni

Rubuni Rashidi´s paintings were used by the designer Ayumi Sufu (Jazzkatze) from Tokyo. The dress was shown at the Tokyo Fashion in Spring 2010.Rubuni Rashidihas built up his name and he is a well known Tinga Tinga painter. He is extreemly popular for his few images of leopard and antilope on red background. Rubuni´s image of the white and black giraffe are used in the BBC series Tinga Tinga Tales - without his consent.

J.Mimus

Jaffary Mimus is painting only birds and antilopes. He just don´t want to paint anything else and he sticks always tohis own personal style. He don´t copy anybody, his styleis very personal. He "tamed" the art market with his few designs, he got some fans, even galleries show his paintings.The paintings are done with heart and care, they radiate warmth and positive energy. I love them myself.

Thabiti

Thabiti Mchisa is one of five brothers who all paint Tinga Tinga - Issa Issa , Hasani Mchisa, Nasombe Mchisa and Issa Thabiti. Hasani Mchisa and Nasombe Mchisa passed away in April 2009. Hasani Mchisa painted the Lilanga style. His paintings made it to National Gallery in Firenze. Nasombe Mchisa was the first generation of Tinga Tinga painters. They both died the within two weeks, Their legacy is continued by the remaining three brothers. Two of them are presented in Tinga Tinga studio.

Lewis

Lewis was born in 1964 in Tanga Region. He attended the primary school, and thereafter worked in different odd jobs until 1996, when he became anapprentice to the Tinga Tinga artist Miraji, aleso known as Milo. For a number of years Lewis painted at the Morogoro Stores, but later he has set up a studio in his house and now does all his paintings there. Lewia is known for his intricate,detailed paintings where birds, animals and dotted guinea fowl colonise every piece of the canvas. He is a part of the new Tinga Tinga generation, which has moved the Tinga Tinga style into a new era.

- The second generation of Tinga Tinga. They have established the Tinga Tinga Co-operative

Abdul Mkura

Abdul Mkura is an established painter. He wasborn in Nakapanya on 18th August 1954. He is theyounger brother of Omary Amonde who was also his teacher in seventies. Mkura is very innovative artist. He is very popular in Japan. On the right side you see Mr. Mkura in a museum in Japan.

Omari Amonde

Omari Amonde is the last living student of Edward Saidi Tingatinga. “When I paintedsome ugly painting, Tingatinga laughed”, recalls Omari Amonde. His twobrothers Nakoko andMkura paint at the Cooperative while the third brother Mlaponi paintson Slipway in Dar es Salaam. His both parents still live in Nakapanya and his father enjoys the status of tribal chief in Nakapanya village, being called Mwenye Nakoko.

Charinda Mohamed

Mohamed Wasia Charinda was born in the Nakapanya village in the Ruvuma regionin southern Tanzania in the year of 1947. Charinda’s teacher was Hashim Mruta. Charinda started to paint in 1975. It is said that he was the first painter who changed from masonite boards to textile canvas, which was in 1989. Charinda is married and has six children. His art is well known. He was recently included in the book ANGAZA AFRIKA by Chris Spring, curator at Sainsbury African galleries at the British Museum of London.

Hasani Kamale

Hasani Kamale belongs to the old school of Tinga Tinga. His teacher was Tedo, the student of E.S.Tingatinga. He married Tedo´s sister with whome he lives in Msasani, Dar es Salaam. Their children Yasini, Jaribuni and Kamalee paint at the Tinga Tinga Cooperative now.

In 2006 and 2007 he worked on a pilot project of Tinga Tinga Tales. Though he was not later employed on the project as Mbwana, Maulana, Zachi, Abbasi and Kilaka, he should receive credit for his work.

- The youngest Tinga Tinga painters in Tanzania. They are also creative and set new trends

Mteko Yusufu Issa Namkala

Mteko was born in 1982 in Nakapanya. His father was painting in seventies; he is called Mteko Saidi but returned back to Nakapanya. But it was not his father whointroduced him to Tinga Tinga, but instead his uncle Mustapha Yusufu and the late Jaffary Aussi. It was in 2003. Since then he is painting at the Tinga Tinga Arts Co-operative Society. He is quite creative, as you see his paintings explore the world of animals from different angles. His style is similar to that of Mustapha Yusufu as he was his teacher.

Adamu Tikatika

Adamu was born in Tunduru in South Tanzania in 1979 to Makua mother and Mwao father. He set out to Dar es Salaam in age of 20 to learn Tinga Tinga art from his family members. He was helped by Saidi Chilamboni in Dar es Salaam. The teacher of Adamu was Saidi Omary, the son of Saidi Chilamboni. Adamu is now living in Mikocheni with his wife and one child called Adam. (6 years) . It is maybe interesting to know that Adamu was quite sole and independent student. He started outside the Cooperative before he was accpeted. The reason for his entrance to the Cooperative was that he has family members here. He is a great painter mastering details.

Rashidi Chilamboni

Rashidi Chilamboni is was born in 1975 in the small village in south Tanzania called Nakapanya. His father was Makonde sculptor while mother was Makua. He came to the commercial capital of Tanzania - Dar es Salaam in order to paint. He had already his relatives here - Abdallah, Chilambo and Saidi. Rashidi is master of fish and savannah paintings. Though he never visited any national park, he sawanimals roaming free around his village Nakapanya. He spotted leopard several times too. He says that it is the source of inspiration to his savannah paintings. Some of his paintings were published such as the one shown on the photo. The publisher is from Finland and the book is called "Elfenbens Hjärta" (Ebony´s Heart)

Mrope Bavuni

Being born in the town of Masasi in January 1980, ca 170 km from the village Nakapanya, Bavuni Mrope has not any relatives among the Tinga Tinga family. His mother is of Makua tribe and father of Mwera tribe. He has reached excellent results in the primary school and he was chosen to enter the Secondary School where he studied for one and two. Unfortunately the family circumstances were not favorable so he had to end. Instead he went to study to Veta school to Dar es Salaam in 2004, where he had uncle. Soon he met Saidi Omary there and they became good friends. Bavuni Mrope asked Saidi Omary to introduce him to Tingatinga which he did. So in 2004 he entered Tinga Tinga Cooperative.

- These painters like to paint Masai people

Sarange

RamadhaniMasai motives are very popular among the customers. Sarange and Duke often argue who was the first one to start to paint the Masai people. Have you seen TingaTinga paintings in Kenya? I am sure they were imported by Sarange! He supplies Tinga Tinga paintings to Nairobi galleries. They are cheap and low quality, they are those which are no one wants to byu at the Cooperative! Sarange´s images are extensively used on various commercial products, mostly cafe and tea packages.

Duke Liame

Duke was born in 1979 in Tunduru, South Tanzania. He is from Myao tribe. His cousin married Saidi Chilamboni who later invited Duke to join the Tinga Tinga Cooperative. His teacher was Mr. Chiwonda, brother of Maurus Malikita and later Peter Gayo. Duke paints both on canvases and on the wooden plates. His most frequent themes are Masai people. He has reached popularity since he is technically very skilled. There is rivality in between Sarange and Duke who was the first to paint the Masai in the Tinga Tinga style. Whomever started to paint the popular designs first their paintings are very much copied in Tanzania. You will see them in Arusha, Zanzibar and other places.

Nangida Masawe

The artist Peter Martin taught Nangida to paint in Tinga Tinga style at Village Museum in Dar es Salaam. A few years ago you could meet a group of painters such as John Kilaka, Emmanuel Jeremiah, Damian Msagula and many others. Their friendship and work stretched beyond the tribal and religious differences. Five painters, five tribes – Chagga, Mfipa, Makonde, Mlundi and Myao. Nangida paints Tinga Tinga and Morden art – mostly Masai people. His Tinga Tinga style is different from the mainstream Tinga Tinga. He depicts village life and animals in a very decorative way. It is popular among children and it is not coincidence that he started recently to add African tales to his paintings. His dream is to illustrate a children book.

- masters of cartoons

Mitole Saidi

He is one of the best cartoonists in Tanzania and his art is on display at the "Welcome Trust Gallery" which is part of the Brittish Museum in London. His paintings called "Dar es Salaam Usiku" (at night) convey strong messages about HIV/AIDS but in a funny way. Another popular theme is "Kariakoo Market" which is one of the biggest commercial hot spots in East Africa. It carries images of chased thieves too. He is not from the Tinga Tinga family. He came to Tinga Tinga through Ali Farida.. His teacher was Mr.Sey and Mwanyiro.

Antony Jonas

La Stampa (literally “The Press”) is one of the best-known, most influential and most widely sold Italian daily newspapers. Published in Turin, it is distributed in Italy and other European nations. Thecurrent owner is the Fiat Group.Go to La Stampa to see Antony Jonas while he paints a painting depicting the animals.

Maurus Malikita

Malikita loves football.He is full fledged member of the Tinga Tinga football team. He used to be dressed in a football dress even at the Cooperative! He is also known for his hospital cartoons shown at various exhibtions worldwide. He has been working for Mr.Sarenco, a curator from Italy. Maurus Michael was born in 1967 in Mpute village which is part of Lindi region in Tanzania. He is Mwera by tribe. Now he lives in Msasani in Dar es salaam. He had two exhibitions in Kenya and National Museum of Tanzania and his work was published numerous publications. He has three children. He learned painting from Saidi Maulana.

- The Painters inspired by the Lilanga art style

Hendrick Lilanga

Was Keith Haring (see the photo on the right, source: Wikipedia) really inspired by Hendrick Lilanga´s grandfather? The biography of Keith Haring says: “In 1976, Haring enrolled in the Ivy School of Professional Art in Pittsburgh, a commercial arts school. He soon realized that he had little interest in becoming a commercial graphic artist and, after two semesters, dropped out. Haring continued to study and work on his own and in 1978 had a solo exhibition of his work at the Pittsburgh Arts and Crafts Center." It is the same year 1978 as George Lilanga, Hendrick´s grandfather had the exhibition in Washington. Did Haring visit the Lilanga exhibition?

Vinta Malaba

Vinta Malaba is one of the three sons of the Makonde master sculptor Agustino Malaba. He was born in Dar es Salaam on 27th July 1987. He started to work with his father at young age and has reached high skill in Makonde sculpting. In the age of 22 he works daily with art at his father´s studio. He is skilful in Shetani sculting as most Makonde artists. Additionally he is a very good at carving the Lilanga shetanis. He is single and living with his parents.

- The artists painting in abstract style.

John Kilaka

John Kilaka is one of the most popular storry-tellers and illustrators from African continent. He has been awarded numerous prices for his art and books such as Bologna-Raggazi, Blaue Brillen, Rattenfaenger price and other. He was pronounced to be among the most popular children writers in Germany in 2006. John Kilaka was also the main illustrator of the Tinga Tinga Tales commissioned by BBC and Walt Disney. Thebook “Tinga Tinga” by Penguin contains many of his illustrations. Other books he has illustrated are Amazing Tree, Fresh Fish and True Friends. His paintings are also part of official FIFA art collection 2010. (more information on www.kilaka.com)

Mzuguno Studio

The studio was created after David Mzuguno passed away in June 2010. The members of the group are Mzuguno family members: Juma, Kipara and Mshana.Just one and half month before David Mzuguno died, he told to Daily Monitor, the Ugandan newspaper: “I have also taught three of my children to do art and hopefully they will carry on with the business when I have left this world,” The fourth painter Rashidi is Mzuguno´s grandchild.

Max Kamundi

Max Kamundi has created a style which has spread all over East Africa. He has not participated in many Tanzanian exhibitions since foreign art-dealers always patronized his art carrier. Born on in 1971 in Ndanda in southern Tanzania he grew up in community where art flourished. He grew up with artists such as Sayuki, Kalembo, Ntila, Msagula and others. Promoted by Abbey of the Benidictine missionaries he quickly advanced his naïve style to more abstract. He was helped by Father Polykarp Uehlein, artist himself who decorated many churches in Tanzania. He visited Germany to participate in mural painting project in Mönchengladbach.

Robino Ntila

Robino Ntila was born in 1953 in Ndanda, Tanzania. At the age of 23 he joined Nyumba ya Sanaa (House of Art) in Dar Es Salaam. Later on he started working there as an artists and chief coordinator. His art brought him more then 10 times to Austria where he specialized in etching techniques. He was accompanied to Austria by Francis Imanjama. Later on even George Lilanga, Hendrick Lilanga, Haji Chilonga followed. He started several artists associations but none of them lasted very long as there is missing unity among the local artists. For instance he was working together with theAmerican Sister Jean Pruitt for many years but then they splitted. As a consequence Nyumba ya Sanaa fell down. He was originator of the idea of Wasanii Art Centre. He introduced the idea and art to American and Italian Embassy which then sponsored a selling exhibition. Last project of Robino Ntila is Rafiki Art Trust, with Godfrey Semwaiko as director. Robino has been known because of his art in Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe as well as in Switzerland and Finland. Ntila has conducted several workshops on print etching. His etching arts illustrate traditional and contemporary life in Africa.