Kenya

Mamba Village hosts underground artists

 By Emmanuel Mwendwa

A Nairobi-based art group is bringing together disfranchised artists and sculptors. Solely inspired by a common goal to pool their individual creative resources, the artists primarily also seek to express independent muses within confines of a friendly environment. 

Ya Afrika Art group comprises about 20 members all committed to a binding vision: a burning determination to manage themselves by selling art works on their own rather than sell pieces through middle-men or art brokers.

movement of artists

Its members represent an underground movement of artists, who at some point were probably registered under Kuona Trust in Nairobi, Kenya. For almost a decade, the Trust set up a studio at Kenya National Museum, but disagreements between management and artists resulted in a protracted fall out.

Kuona relocated last year, to the Godown Art Centre where it subsidizes numerous studios. Their strong resolve spawned off years of unchecked exploitation as they put it, by self-styled art dealers who have invaded the city’s vibrant visual art market. 

An estimated 500 art pieces; watercolour, oil, acrylic paintings, pastels; wood, stone, metal, fiber glass sculptures and other mixed media are displayed at Mamba Village’s Art Gallery, established early this year. These works are credited to 40 artists, some yet to join group. ‘We hope to steer an organization, which will spearhead campaigns for local artists’ empowerment’, asserts Wanjohi Nyamu. 

In addition, co-pted members include: Evanson Omondi, Salim P. Mburu, Raymond Mutuku, Peter Walala, Nelly Wanjiru, Patricia Njeri, Anthony Muya, Wilson Mwangi and John Ndung’u. Others are Anthony Wanjau, James Mutisya, James Omondi, David Mwaniki, Sam Kimemia, Kevin Kariuki, Henry Muhia, Martin Muhoro and Peter Gitau.

artists evicted

‘Our collective interests were previously ignored by art organizations whose goals differ with supposed objectives, some that purportedly solicit support for budding artists’, notes Wanjohi. ‘Artists were evicted from Museum, but rather than dump our brushes, palettes, chisels we opted to unite and sought alternate working space to serve as a gallery’, notes Salim Mburu. Their newfound freedom at Mamba Gallery, enables Wanjohi and colleagues to explore artistic frontiers, developing the visual art sector’s abundant untapped potential.

According to Evanson Omondi the group realized continued dependence solely on donors could in the long term, stifle and even cripple their pursuit of individual goals. In Wanjohi’s view, "art elsewhere is a foreign exchange earner therefore African governments should quit extending begging bowls to donors and look within for homegrown solutions to problems facing the people.

Available space at Mamba also facilitates regular exhibitions, a factor which previously obstructed unknown artists breaking into the scene. Some Ya Afrika members consider Kenya’s visual arts as an unexploited tourist attraction and a natural resource the government has disregarded.

teaching children

The African Heritage Management Kenya, is a partner organization that has been working with the group by exhibiting works by their artists. Other pieces are on display at the UK’s Queens Wood Lodge, London. The artists have on their own, successfully organized a series of workshops in key urban centers in Kenya. They also participate in public projects like last year's renovation of Museum Hill road bridge, painting murals, teaching street kids and school children basics in visual arts.

Ya Afrika has attracted corporate commissions for sculptures or creative images depicting human figures or wildlife in realism and abstract forms. Most of the group's artists have participated in exhibitions at Ramoma gallery, in the Rahimtulla Museum of Modern Art Nairobi, Kenya.

                                                                                - kushugpen@hotmail.com