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London 2013

  • 1-54 Forum 2013
  • Exhibitors 2013
  • Press 2013
  • Projects 2013

George Lilanga

Born in 1934 in Kikwetu, Masasi District, Tanzania. Died in 2005 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

George Lilanga, 'Ngioja nichungiu lie humo kwenye kiboyo', Circa 1990 

George Lilanga was born in the high, arid plateaus of the Mozambique- Tanzania border. Known for being the centre of Makonde culture, it is especially noted for its Mapico initiation dances and rich sculptural traditions.

In 1972, he settled in Dar es Salaam and, in 1973, he became associated with the newly founded Nyumba ya Sanaa (House of Arts), a gallery and cultural centre established by local artists. In 1980, he encountered the works of the Tingatinga School (established by the followers of Eduardo Saidi Tingatinga, 1939 – 1972), where Tingatinga’s exuberantly abstracted paintings had a profound effect on his work.

Lilanga’s art, animated by a keen sense of social critique, illustrates the continuity of the artistic vision amongst the Makonde and its renewed context in the present day. In many ways his sculptures and paintings follow Makonde conventions. Indeed, his playful figures might be best understood as heirs to the Makonde shetani, the unruly spirits of Makonde cosmology. Similarly, the complexity of his paintings can be compared to the Makonde ujamaa (tree of life), which signifies unity and solidarity.

Selected Artists

Koko Robert Bi, Jems

George Lilanga

James Muriuki

Dicko, Saidou

Michéa, Vincent

Nzebo, Boris

Owusu-Ankomah

Stanley, Ransome

Artists 2013

  • A

    • Aboudia
    • Adama Kouyaté
    • Agbodjelou, Leonce Raphael
    • Amahiguéré Dolo
    • Amina Menia
  • B

    • Bandoma, Steve
    • Baudouin Mouanda
    • Boutté, Nathalie
  • C

    • Cyprien Tokoudagba
  • D

    • Dicko, Saidou
    • Dingwall, Justin
    • Donkor, Godfried
    • Douglas Camp, Sokari
  • E

    • Edson Chagas
    • El Baz, Mohamed
    • EL Loko
  • F

    • François-Xavier Gbré
    • Frank Marshall
    • Frédéric Bruly Bouabré
  • G

    • Gaba, Meschac
    • George Lilanga
    • Glover, Ablade
    • Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude
    • Guerresi, Maïmouna
  • H

    • Hajjaj, Hassan
    • Harandane Dicko
    • Hazoumè, Romuald
  • J

    • James Muriuki
  • K

    • Karel Nel
    • Karo Akpokiere
    • Katembo, Kiripi
    • Koko Robert Bi, Jems
  • L

    • Luzamba, Zemba
  • M

    • Mabunda, Gonçalo
    • Mahlangu, Esther
    • Maiga, Hamidou
    • Malick Sidibé
    • Mancoba, Ernest
    • Manuela Sambo
    • Mavis Tauzeni
    • Michéa, Vincent
    • Miriam Syowia Kyambi
    • Moataz Nasr
    • Moke
    • Monteiro, Fabrice
    • Moschetti, Jean-Claude
    • Mudariki, Richard
    • Musekiwa, Terrence
  • N

    • Ndiaye, Cheikh
    • Nestor Da
    • Nzebo, Boris
  • O

    • Okhai Ojeikere, J.D.
    • Okore, Nnenna
    • Ové, Zak
    • Owusu-Ankomah
  • P

    • Paul Sika
    • Placido Guimaraes
    • Platter, Cameron
  • Q

    • Quenum, Gérard
  • R

    • Rachid Koraïchi
    • Richard Butler-Bowdon
  • S

    • Samba, Chéri
    • Sammy Baloji
    • Seydou Keïta
    • Shomali, Kura
    • Sinzogan, Julien
    • Soudan, Gor
    • Stanley, Ransome
  • T

    • Takadiwa, Moffat
  • U

    • Uche James-Iroha
  • V

    • Virginia Chihota
    • Virginia Ryan
  • W

    • Wycliffe Mundopa
  • Y

    • Younès Rahmoun
  • Z

    • Zangewa, Billie
    • Zinkpè, Dominique

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