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Tinga Tinga - Original Paintings from Tanzania
Page 2

Biography continued from, and more paintings on Tinga Tinga 1 Page:

Meanwhile, Tingatinga continued to paint. His studio was at his residence at Msasani Mikoroshoni where he stayed with his family in one room. His paintings were sold at Morogoro Stores in Oyster Bay area by his wife, his nephew, Omari Amonde, and sometimes himself.

Eventually things slowly started to work in Tingatinga's favor. One day, a tourist, who had bought one of his paintings, introduced him to the then National Arts Company, a subsidiary of the National Development Cooperation. The company became interested in Tingatinga's paintings straight away. It was agreed that the artist should supply the company with his paintings. With this newly acquired client, each of his paintings could now fetch up to Tsh. 60. Having found himself financially fit, he decided to quit his job at Muhimbili Medical Centre and began to live entirely on his paintings.

Tingatinga took several young relatives as his apprentices. They were called Ajaba Abdallah Mtalia, Adeusi Mandu, January Linda, Casper Tedo and Simon Mpata. First, they were just helping him with the work but then he encouraged them to do their own paintings.

Tingatinga was known by many as a talented man who was also very social. One Saturday night in 1972, Tingatinga met his untimely and tragic death. There were three people in a Volkswagen Beetle speeding away from a police patrol car along Independence Road, now Samora Avenue, in Dar es Salaam. The police had mistaken it for a get-away car used by robbers. They fired several shots at the car, one bullet got Tingatinga. He died on his way to the hospital. His two colleagues, Tedo and Daudi, escaped the shooting miraculously. In the subsequent police interrogation, it was discovered that Daudi, the driver, was in fact running away from the police because he had no valid driving license. The three were using the car without the permission of the owner who happened to be their relative. They were not robbers at all but that was the end of Tingatinga's life.

Edward Tingatinga was buried at the Msasani Mikoroshoni cemetery in Dar es Salaam. He died at the age of 40 leaving behind his wife and two children, Daudi and Maritina. Daudi is presently an active member of the Tingatinga Arts Co-operative Society while his sister, Maritina, is married and lives in Dar es Salaam. Their mother died in 1995.

Although Edward Said Tingatinga is dead, his memory is still fresh and alive among us all. His art will make him live among us for ever.

Title: A135 Dimensions: 23" x 31.5" (59 x 80cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $260	Title: A136 Dimensions: 23" x 31" (59 x 78cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $260	Title: A140 Dimensions: 23" x 31.5" (59 x 80cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $260	Title: A141 Dimensions: 23" x 31.5" (59 x 80cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $260
Title: A142 Dimensions: 30" x 30" (76 x 76cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $300	Title: A143 Dimensions: 30" x 30" (76 x 76cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $300	Title: A144 Dimensions: 30" x 30" (76 x 76cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $300	Title: A145 Dimensions: 30" x 30" (76 x 76cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $300
Title: A146 Dimensions: 30" x 30" (76 x 76cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $300	Title: A147 Dimensions: 30" x 30" (76 x 76cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $300	Title: A148 Dimensions: 30" x 30" (76 x 76cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $300	Title: A149 Dimensions: 30" x 30" (76 x 76cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $300
Title: A150 Dimensions: 30" x 30" (76 x 76cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $300 Sold! 17 Sept '08	Title: A151 Dimensions: 30" x 30" (76 x 76cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $300	Title: A152 Dimensions: 30" x 30" (76 x 76cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $300	Title: A153 Dimensions: 30" x 43.5" (76 x 111cm) (huge dramatic painting!) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $420
Title: A154 Dimensions: 24" x 60" (61 x 153cm) (that's five feet tall!) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $500	Title: A120 Dimensions:10" x 27" (26 x 69cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120	Title: A102 Dimensions:10" x 27.5" (26 x 70cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120	Title: A104 Dimensions:10" x 27.5" (26 x 70cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120
Title: A107 Dimensions:11.5" x 27.5" (29 x 70cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120	Title: A120 Dimensions:10" x 27" (26 x 69cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120	Title: A105 Dimensions:10" x 27" (26 x 69cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120	Title: A106 Dimensions:10" x 27.5" (26 x 70cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120
Title: A116 Dimensions:10" x 27" (26 x 69cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120	Title: A117 Dimensions:10" x 27" (26 x 69cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120	Title: A111 Dimensions:10" x 27.5" (26 x 70cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120	Title: A110 Dimensions:10" x 27" (26 x 69cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120
Title: A112 Dimensions:10" x 27.5" (26 x 70cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120	Title: A114 Dimensions:10" x 27.5" (26 x 70cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120	Title: A113 Dimensions:10" x 27" (26 x 69cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120	Title: A115 Dimensions:10" x 27.5" (26 x 70cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120
Title: A101 Dimensions:27.5" x 12" (70 x 30cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120	Title: A109 Dimensions:27.5" x 12" (70 x 30cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120	Title: A118 Dimensions:27.5" x 12" (70 x 30cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120	Title: A119 Dimensions:27.5" x 12" (70 x 30cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120
Title: A103 Dimensions:10" x 27.5" (26 x 70cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120	Title: A121 Dimensions:10" x 27.5" (26 x 70cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120	Title: A122 Dimensions:10" x 27.5" (26 x 70cm) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $120	Title: A123 Dimensions:12.5" x 51" (32 x 130cm) (that's over four feet tall!) Medium:  Oil on Canvas Price: $220