Arts and Crafts

The work of Godfrey Semwaiko

Finding anything that is directly related to Tanzania has been difficult. This said, I expected my museum trip to be tough. I decided to go the MET as they have a wing devoted to African art. While they have textiles, sculptures, and statues from many areas of Africa I was unable to find any from Tanzania. For many, this may seem "close enough," but I'm determine to find things, whether they be art, music, or food that is directly from Tanzania. This art was beautiful and ornate and showed real craftsmanship and skill, however none of it was from Tanzania (or Eastern Africa for that matter). Additionally, most of the African art at the MET wasn't recent (i.e. hundreds of years old). I want to see what is coming out of Tanzania now. My trip to the MET was enjoyable, but didn't provide me with any new insight or any new ideas. I didn't get a sense of what art from Tanzania looked like--what materials are used, what style is popular, what subjects are observed, etc.

I thought I might have better luck online. After a bit of searching I found the work of Godfrey Semwaiko, a resident of Dar es Salaam. He is young (born in 1975), and the founder of the Tanzanian Artist's Trust. He has shown his work in New York, Sweden, and Tanzania. He works with watercolor, ink, pastels, and oil. He is an illustrator, and his work has a beautiful quality to it. His paintings seem to be a range of people, animals, and landscapes, all with a strong focus on light and dark, and deep contrast. His mixed media pieces are more surreal, and I'm drawn to these. His art is beautiful and detailed and comparable to art coming out of New York.

I think oftentimes we have the impression that art of developing countries lack skill and legitimacy. When we think of African art we think of those pieces from the MET, small statues and carvings-- and not of surreal or modern art. I think we often view African art as craft rather than as art. I look forward to learning more about East African and Tanzanian art (and hopefully, seeing some in person).