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 Makonde carver who turned sculpture into painting, and became the most internationally celebrated artist Tanzania has produced.
George Lilanga was born in 1934 into the Makonde people and lived most of his life in Dar es Salaam.
He began in the Makonde tradition of wood carving, then, through the Nyumba ya Sanaa cultural centre, translated those sculptural forms into paintings, etchings and panels. From 1980, under the influence of the Tingatinga school, he began the brightly coloured, ironic paintings of everyday Tanzanian life for which he is known. Widely called the Picasso of Africa, he was the most internationally renowned Tanzanian artist. He died on 27 June 2005.
He began in the Makonde tradition of wood carving, then, through the Nyumba ya Sanaa cultural centre, translated those sculptural forms into paintings, etchings and panels. From 1980, under the influence of the Tingatinga school, he began the brightly coloured, ironic paintings of everyday Tanzanian life for which he is known. Widely called the Picasso of Africa, he was the most internationally renowned Tanzanian artist. He died on 27 June 2005.
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