Contemporary art in Tanzania: a study of the artworks of Elias Jengo

The study attempts to examine the art of Elias Jengo in terms of influences that shaped his art. Jengo’s anesthetic development is discussed to show how his early schooling affected his later artistic life. Although Elias Jengo has been engaged in the art of painting for over four decades, there has been no scientific study that has been conducted to examine his life as an artist and his works of art skills and ambitions. This study is an attempt to realize this. In this study, Jengo art is discussed in the context of contemporary African. Jingo’s contribution to Tanzania’s contemporary art scene started in the early sixties. This study discusses Jengo’s art in four phases from 1963-73, 1985-95, and 1996-2006. The rationale here was to see how the prevailing historical and social conditions of each phase which lasted ten years, had shaped the painting style of the artist. In each phase, Jengo’s artworks are analyzed on the basis of their themes, influences of patronage, style and choice of medium. Most themes of Elias Jengo’s artworks are derived from everyday life of his people in Tanzania as well as those of Africans in general. He prefers painting from memory. His artworks encompass many experiences based on religion, mythology, nationalism and politics. The conclusion and recommendations incorporate a discussion of how best to understand Jengo’s artistic development and how to honor his works and efforts.