Edward Tingatinga, born in 1932 in Namochelia, Tanzania, hailed from a modest background. His mother, Agnes Binti Ntembo, was of the Makua ethnic group and a Christian, while his father, Saidi Tingatinga, was a Ngindo and a Muslim. Due to the matrilinear tradition of the Makua society, Tingatinga is considered of Makua descent. His parents’ relationship eventually dissolved, and he was primarily raised by his mother’s family. In the 1950s, Tingatinga worked on sisal plantations in northern Tanzania. Later, he was taken under the wing of his uncle, Salum Mussa Mkayoga (Mzee Lumumba), a cook for a British officer in Dar es Salaam. Tingatinga started as a musician and, in 1968, began experimenting with painting. He used inexpensive materials like masonite squares, ceramic fragments, and bicycle paint, crafting a style that was naïve, with a touch of surrealism and humor. In 1970, Tingatinga married Agatha Mataka, a Makonde from Mozambique. His paintings gained popularity among European residents and tourists, enabling him to focus full-time on his art. He later formed the Tingatinga Art Co-operative Society, which included his apprentices and followers. Many of these individuals were relatives, either Makua or Makonde. Of the original generation of Tingatinga students, only Edward’s nephew Omari Amonde is still alive today.
