Tingatinga

Tingatinga art is big, big, big in Tanzania. The founder, Edward Tingatinga, was sadly killed in a police shootout in the 60s. It's not what you think - he wasn't trying to rob a bank or anything, the Tanzanian police just happened to put a bullet through him when they were aiming at actual bank robbers! Poor Edward!

This makes me think that the police here should spend more time doing target practice at the local precinct and not stand about at street corners doing a bad job at directing traffic - making it worse than it was before they got there.

But I digress.

The piece that you see in the picture is the first piece of art I have ever owned. The colours and whimsical animals on it really appeal to me ( I tend to have childish taste).

I'm planning to carry some tingatinga art back home and perhaps present them to some friends - I happen to know more people with childish taste.

Although it does look a little like a kindergarten painting, even The Engineer, who has very grownup taste, has begun to like it.

Perhaps it's the innocence of the picture that appeals....