The Tingatinga style of painting began with Edward Saidi Tingatinga (1932-1972) who was born in Tanzania to a family of subsistence farmers. After coming to Dar-es-Salaam in search of work, he marvelled at the ease with which Western-style paintings by Zairian artists sold to tourists and decided to try his luck as a painter.

Unable to afford art supplies, Tingatinga scavenged materials such as discarded ceiling boards, dregs of bicycle enamel, household paint and old paintbrushes. What he lacked in formal training he made up for in savvy and enthusiasm, depicting cheerful and vibrantly coloured scenes of animals, birds, and village life, all meant to appeal to tourists’ romantic notions of African tribal life.

Edward Tinga Tinga, *Untitled*, enamel on board

Despite his unconventional start and unabashedly commercial motivation, Edward Tingatinga originated a unique “naive” style rooted in part in the use scavenged materials and in part in his lack of formal training.

His paintings sold well, and in time he taught his family members to copy the style - it was a commercial enterprise after all.

Edward Saidi Tingatinga, *Leopard*, enamel bicycle paint on masonite

In 1972, at the age of 40, Edward Tingatinga was shot dead by police in a case of mistaken identity. His fellow artists in Dar formed the Tingatinga Arts Cooperative Society in his name, teaching his style of painting to young Tanzanian hopefuls.

Rajabu Chiwaya, *Birds Fighting a Snake*, oil on board

Rajabu Chiwaya (b. 1951 - 2004, Tanzania) was one such young hopeful who arrived in Der in 1974, making the journey from his village in order to seek a better livelihood through painting.

He trained at the newly established Tingatinga Arts Co-operative Society, earning sufficient income from his panting to establish a family of 14 children.

Rjabu Chiwaya, *Leopard and Birds*, enamel paint on panel

Rajabu Chiwaya was only 50 when he passed away. Several of his children paint in the Tingatinga style, most notably Mwamedi Chiwaya (b. 1979) who is considered of the most skilled contemporary Tingatinga painters.

Mwamedi Chiwaya, *The Scene* (the giraffes’ usual spots are replaced with ornaments that are typical of the Maasai culture)

Today, the Tingatinga artists evolve and continue the themes of animals, birds and village life, some painting on canvas, some on board, and some continuing the tradition of painting only with bicycle enamel.