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← Tanzania Hall of Fame
Art, Design & Fashion Landmark

Edward Saidi Tingatinga

1932 – 1972

Founded the Tingatinga school of painting

Landmark is level 2 of 4 in the Tanzania Hall of Fame: a first that opened a door, or the pre-eminent figure of their generation in this country. See how the levels work.

Why they are here

A sisal labourer who started painting on scrap board with bicycle enamel, and created the style that is now Tanzania's most recognisable art anywhere in the world.

Edward Saidi Tingatinga came to Dar es Salaam from the village of Namochelia and began painting on recycled masonite squares with bicycle enamel.

His subjects were wildlife, savanna and village life in bold colour and black outline. The Tingatinga Arts Cooperative Society, founded by his students in 1977, remains the institutional centre of the movement.
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