Tingatinga Arts Co-operative Society
The current leadership of TACS
On 11th March 2010 the new leadership of TACS has been elected.
The new leadership of TACS includes the Chairman Abdallah Chilamboni, the Vice Chairman Abasy Mbuka, the Secretary Rashidi Munyana, the Board Of Trustees Mohamed Chilambo, Abdul Mkura, Farida Husseini, Thabiti Mchisa and Mkumba Steven. The manager is Daniel Augusta and the Sales Women are Grace Felix and Mecky Mkwawa.
Abdallah Chilamboni Chairman |
Abbasy Mbuka Vice Chairman |
Athumawe Chilamboni Board Representative |
Farida Mtindo Board Representative |
Mkumba Steven Board Member
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Thabiti Mchisa Board Member |
Abdul Mkura Board Member |
Rashidi Munyana Secretary
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Daniel Augusta Manager |
Grace Felix Sales woman |
Mecky Mkwawa Sales woman |
How it started
The Tingatinga Arts Cooperative Society (TACS) was registered on 28th July 1990 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. But the decision to form a Cooperative was not straightforward. After Edward Saidi Tingatinga was hit tragically by a police bullet in 1972 he left behind only six students: Simon Mpata, January Linda, Adeus Matambwe, Kasper Henric Tedo, Abdallah Ajaba and Omari Amonde.
Omari Amonde in 2009: "I learned to paint from Edward Saidi Tingatinga in 1972. Since then I have seen a big change. I see that now the things are better then before. But as an old man, I can´t paint as much as the young painters.
The foundation of TACS
The artists were disorganised until Mr. Salum Mussa (Mzee Lumumba) came up with the idea to form a Tingatinga Partnership. Among those who attended the first meeting were Omary Amonde, Hashim Mruta, Saidi Chilamboni and others. Under the umbrella of the Tingatinga Partnership the work of the artists expanded and in 1990 it was time to form a stronger organisation - The Tingatinga Arts Cooperative Society.
The current Tanzanian president Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete opened our Studio in 90´s. On the right you see Salum Mussa, called Mzee Lumumba
Some of the founders were Omari Amonde, Zaburi Chimwanda, Saidi Chilamboni, Hasani Abdalamani, Mwamedi Charinda, Hashimu Mruta, Salum Mussa, Jaffari Aussi, Rajabu Chiwaya, Abdul Mkura etc. Now the TACS has 53 active members including the son and the daughter of E.S.Tingatinga and around 30 associated painters. It means more than 90 artists.
Abdul Mkura |
Omari Amonde |
A.Hassani |
M. Charinda |
Saidi Chilamboni |
Tinga Tinga family at work
The Tinga Tinga community in Tanzania consists of around 700 painters who paint every day on the streets of Dar es Salam, near the beaches of Zanzibar or under the highest African mountain Kilimanjaro. A few painters reached to Kenya, South Africa and as far as Europe, Japan and America. They are linked together either by family or friendship.
The children of E.S.Tingatinga, Daudi (left) and Martina (right) Tingatinga work at the Cooperative.
Tingatinga Arts Co-operative Society with almost 100 artists is in the center of the Tinga Tinga movement. It is the best organized Tinga Tinga group, the core Tinga Tinga family from South Tanzania. It has taught tens of artists who then became recognized such as David Mzuguno, Peter Martin, Damian Msagula, Noel Kapanda (he later painted for George Lilanga).