A rare, original painting by the late Tanzanian artist Edward Saidi Tingatinga has sold for Ksh7.63 million at a Nairobi auction, setting a new world record for the artist and highlighting the growing value of East African art.
The 1971 piece, titled Untitled (Landscape with Lion and Bird), was the star lot at the 14th annual Art Auction East Africa sale held on Wednesday at the Circle Art Gallery.
The final price, equivalent to about $58,708, was more than four times its pre-sale high estimate of Ksh1.6 million, sparking a bidding war that underscored the growing appetite for rare works by the founder of the Tingatinga school.
The sale represented a remarkable journey for an artist who created his works to make a living. According to the auction catalogue, Tingatinga began his career in the late 1960s using enamel bicycle paint on ceiling boards to create affordable pieces for sale in Dar es Salaam shops.
It was there that expatriates began to notice and collect his vibrant, square-format depictions of wildlife.
Tingatinga’s career was tragically cut short in 1972 when he was shot dead at the age of 40. However, in just four years, he developed a distinctive style that would become one of Tanzania’s most recognisable artistic traditions.
Before his death, he had begun training friends and family, leading to the formation of the Tingatinga School, which continues to thrive today.
Danda Jaroljmek, director of the Circle Art Gallery, described the sale as a pivotal moment for the region’s art market.
“The result for the Tingatinga is a testament to the growing sophistication of collectors in East Africa and internationally. It confirms that masterworks from our region can command prices comparable to contemporary art from other parts of the continent,” Jaroljmek said in an interview following the auction.
While the hammer price generated excitement in the auction room, it also raised questions about the artist’s legacy. The catalogue listed the painting’s provenance as a “private collection”, and neither the auction house nor the seller disclosed whether any portion of the proceeds would benefit Tingatinga’s family or estate.
The sale came at a time when Tingatinga’s market was experiencing significant appreciation. Art Auction East Africa noted that his animal paintings had appreciated more than sixfold over the past 13 years.
A previous 1971 elephant painting fetched Ksh5.6 million at the same auction in 2019, making him the most valuable artist in the sale’s history.
