Abdallah Chilamboni

Abdallah is one of the most creative artists in te Tinga Tinga movement. It is said that the famous design of the fish in circles was first painted by him. Equally his paintings of crocodiles or frogs are also very unique. In 2011 Abdallah was the Chairman of the Tinga Tinga Cooperative.

 

He is from Tunduru District, southern Tanzania. His father was Makonde, the famous tribe known for its excellent wood carvers and his mother was Makua – the tribe to which most Tinga Tinga artists belong. He completed Primary school in Nakapanya and came to Dar es Salaam in 1988 and started working as a assistant to car serviceman. After one year he left the job and became an apprentice to his uncle Saidi Chilamboni, an established Tinga Tinga painter, following his life-long passion for art. Abdallah has participated in various Tinga Tinga exhibitions in Tanzania as well as in Belgium, France and Germany. He also visited Japan on two occasions.