Mohamed Charinda

Tingatinga is a painting style with highly saturated colors that started as tourist- oriented art in Tanzania. Charinda emerged from this school but soon developed his own distinct style. He used canvas instead of masonite panels and introduced new subject matters. Instead of concentrating on African wildlife, he depicts complex scenes of rural life, Makua folk tales, and historical events. In this work, Charinda presents a caricatured scene of two young people reminiscing about their families back in their home village. Addressing themes of collective memory and cultural identity, the painting explores the connection with our roots and daily rituals.

Mohammed Charinda (1947, Tanzania) lives in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. After completing primary education, he followed the artist Hashim Mruta and started painting in 1975. He has introduced alternative materials and techniques to the Tingatinga style. Charinda has exhibited at the British Museum, among other exhibitions in the UK, Switzerland and France.