TINGA TINGA STORY

It all started in 1968, almost by an accident. Edward Saidi Tinga Tinga just painted the first painting and it sold. So he painted another one etc. Then other relatives joined. Today, after 40 years we have several hundred artists in Tanzania, Kenya and other countries. The "original" family is still here and it is very big. Maybe 100 painters, maybe 200 painter, maybe more. They are all Makua tribe, speaking Makua, having Makua traditions. (by the way the previous president of Tanzania Benjamin Mkapa is also a Makua). The Makua are related to Makonde, which are already known for the Makonde carvings. So, will the Makua be known for Tinga Tinga? Interestingly, nobody has yet linked the Tinga Tinga to Makua as we did with the carvings!

 

This big stone is ca 15 km far from the villages of Tinga Tinga painters

The Tinga Tinga painters come from four villages in South Tanzania. Nakapanya village is the biggest one. Many painters were born there. They still go frequently back to visit there families, so you will always meet a Tinga Tinga friend there! But they don´t paint there.

This is Nakapanya village painted in Celtel colours - the mobil service provider.

This is me (Daniel Augusta) on the Tinga Tinga motorcycle

Be aware that there is a lot of Tinga Tinga scrap, rubish (takataka in Kiswahili). It is just because anybody can be a Tinga Tinga painter providing you find some spot in town with many tourists. But the "real", "original" Tinga Tinga painters are found in Oysterbay in Morogoro Stores in Dar es Salaam (It has nothing to do with Morogoro city). They call themselves The Tinga Tinga Arts Cooperative Society (TACS). In fact they have branches in Slipway, Zanzibar and other places.

 

Good (left) and less good (right) Tinga Tinga paintings

In the Tinga Tinga Cooperative you can meet Tinga Tinga´s son, you can meet Saidi Chilamboni, Mohamed Charinda, Hasani and others who have all started this big big art movement. There you can meet artists who became recognized internationally. It is hard to become a member here. It helps if you are Makua.

 

Me and Tinga Tinga´s son Daudi Tinga Tinga in the Tinga Tinga Cooperative

Tinga Tinga Cooperative is a big extended family, a big group of relatives. They found the art style which they live on until now. This group has been working and functioning without much interference from NGO´s, sponsors and other development institutions. It is true that Swiss HELVETAS built the house and helped much but Tinga Tinga Cooperative lives its own life. It will survive us and all global economic crises.

 

The development through business seems a best model as these Moshi guys demonstrates on the picture. Actually, they just bought the car and their first trip was to Morogoro Stores to buy Tinga Tinga paintings.