“AHSANTE CHILDREN” PHOTO EXHIBITION BEAMS LONDONERS TO TANZANIA

 It was not a huge place.

 Nor well known.

London has mega art spaces like Tate Modern where 240 seat auditorium and nine passenger lifts to numerous floors are normal. Turbine Hall for instance entertains at least 1,500 heads. This was nothing like that.  Nevertheless, it opened eyes to the little known country of Tanzania overseas.

Some of the kids ...stars who stole the whole show...pic by Jason Roper.

 Pictures always tell a story and these ones really did remarkably well. The venue was The Chapel, St Margaret’s House in Bethnal Green, East London. You can easily find St Margaret’s House online. Oh, lord it was ordinary, simple and beautiful.  Simple, because it was individual effort of three young Europeans who had worked briefly on a small rural project in Mbeya. 

  Hold a sec.

Many a foreigner have visited remote parts of the world and grabbed images, which they later brag about to family and friends. “I was here,” “I was there”, “Look at this abandoned dog”, “See that smiling poor boy...” Photographs keep memories.

 

Viewer checks out the images of Rungwe kids...pic by Amy Read.

RAZA PAINTING EXHIBITION IN LONDON OPENS THIS WEEKEND

This Friday, London, will be experiencing a little of Tanzania.

It won’t be your usual conferences by respected executives, diplomats and political heavyweights. It won’t be a representation of athletes, cricket players, and football teams. Not a fashion show with entertainment via singers Lady Di, Ray C or Taarab music. Nothing of the sort. Not even contemporary Bongo Flava of Mr. Two, TID Zeze, Mr Nice, Diamond and traditional music from late Hukwe Zawose, Wananjenje, Twanga Pepeta or the late Remmy Ongala’s Bongo Beat. These are the sort of things we are used to. When such acts visit London Tanzanians normally flock in dozens to cheer and dust off homesick blues.

But painters? A painting exhibition?

I beg your pardon. This is news.

Raza Mohamed was born in August, 1946. He started sketching with charcoal in 1952.
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