The Uweza Aid Foundation and the artist Joseph Wanderi together against poverty through art

When the new millenium started, there were hopes that humankind might gain consiousness and the indifference in the world towards those less favoured might fade away.

But in a world rulled by material values, where money plays an important role as never before and people are relegated to second plan, we keep having millions of individuals, especially small children, who keep living in inhumane conditions and don’t have a single opportunity to raise out of that situation.

Fortunately, organizations and people exist that try to fight this status quo. It’s a continuous and difficult fight, but they never give up and keep believing that they can make this world a better place.

The Uweza Aid Foundation (Uweza is the Swahili word for ability and power) is a 501(c)(3) organization registered in the State of Illinois that fights the cycle of poverty that persists in Kenya's Kibera slum, in spite of the resiliency and ingenuity of Kenyans working to better their communities, even without any external assistance.
Through community-based empowerment programs, Uweza nurtures and builds upon the already existing capabilities and resourcefulness of Kenyans.

All its projects are developed and/or run by Kenyans, primarily residents of Kibera who are dedicated to the betterment of their community. Current projects include an after-school program, soccer club, school sponsorships, and a counseling initiative for at-risk and troubled youth.

You can also contribute to their projects and one of the ways of doing so is by investing in art.
Most of us would like to own some works of art, or even start an art collection, but usually don’t know how to start or who to contact.

The paintings of Joseph Wanderi are beautiful and creative one of a kind originals that represent in warm tones, the people's life as well as the wonderful fauna, flora and landscape of the region.
His works can be considered an opportunity for the emerging art collector who values aesthetics above all.

Moreover, African artists are gaining recognition in a global art worl, making it not only an aesthetic acquisition, but as well as a wise one

Half of the sales of each painting will go to the artist and half will go toward funding weekly art classes for Kibera youth.

Should they wish, when at the checkout, the readers of The Art Inquirer can enter the promotional code theartinquirer, which will give them a 10% discount on Wanderi's paintings, supported by the Uweza Aid Foundation.
This promotional code is valid until January 1, 2013. After this date, the discount will be 5% until further notice.

Joseph Wanderi (known to most as "Wanderer") is an art instructor and a well-known Kibera artist who started painting when he was in primary school. He now makes a living by creating artwork and aims to nurture artistic talent in other Kibera youth.

Disclaimer: The originalty and quality of the artworks, as well as their commercialization, is of the responsibility of their author and owner respectively.

África Mostra-se! African Culture & Film Festival

The edition 1 of África Mostra-se! African Culture & Film Festival will take place in Lisbon from 14 to 17 of June 2012.

 From 14 to 16 of June, a partnership between ISU – Instituto de Solidariedade e cooperação Universitária  and the Institut Français du Portugal, in colaboration with Cinémathèque Afrique – Institut Français, brings to the public the possibility to discover the culture and artistic diversity of the African continent.

 With particular focus on films by renowned African cinematographers, África Mostra-se! is a multicultural experience (French version) that includes music, handicraft, an African dance workshop (bookmark is necessary, contact africamostrase@gmail.com or  962 313 048) and one hour of African tales especially catered for younger audiences (in French).

 Parallel activities will take place during the event. On Friday 15th, Arte & Manha presents a singing workshop, a concert and a DJ party, and on Saturday 16th, a percussion workshop, a panel discussion and a concert.
On Sunday 17th, The Associação de Tempos Livres de Alfama (ATLA) will present a concert and a film projection, as well as an all day long festival with handicraft and African gastronomy.

 Learn more about the programme by visiting the África Mostra-se! official page. A brochure is also available.

 The edition zero of África Mostra-se! took place in July last year.

VI Biennial of São Tomé and Príncipe: Heritage(s)

This November 1, was inaugurated in the CACAU - CASA DAS ARTES CRIAÇÃO AMBIENTE UTOPIAS museum/art gallery, the VI Biennial of São Tomé and Príncipe (6ª Bienal de São Tomé e Príncipe).

Organized by CIAC - Centro Internacional de Arte e Cultura, with the colaboration of João Carlos Silva, and curatorship of Adelaide Ginga from the Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea -- Museu do Chiado, this year's biennial arrives to the public under the theme: Heritage(s).

Inspired in the former role of São Tomé and Príncipe (St. Thomas & Prince), not only as a slave commerce entrepôt, but also as a place of gathering between different people and cultures, the VI Biennial of São Tomé and Príncipe aims to become a cultural place of reference in Africa and an alternative to other biennials.

To stimulate artistic experiments through artistic residencies, sharing cultural experiencies between artists, curators, gallerists, critics, historians, and to incentivate the art lab concept, will be some of the characteristics of this biennial.

The VI Biennial of São Tomé and Príncipe will show the work of artists from Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, France, Guiné-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor Leste.
An international colective exhibition centred on the architectural heritage - "Inventar(iar) as Roças de São Tomé e Príncipe"; and Roça Língua a project about portuguese linguistic universe and heritage, which will happen betwwen 1 and 8 of November, are some of the several initiatives offered to the public and taking place along the archipelago.

Also included will be a documentary and film cycle about Africa and its heritage(s), by African authors, a homage to the artist Almada Negreiros, two projects of photography in public spaces about Tchiloli, workshops and educational ateliers, as well as entertainment events that value traditional performing arts.

In February 2012, through a partnership with the City Hall of Lisbon, the White and Black halls of the City Museum (Pavilhões Branco e Preto do Museu da Cidade), will host a selection of works completed during the artistic residencies, as well as the project "Inventar(iar) as Roças de São Tomé e Príncipe.
The São Jorge Cinema (Lisbon) will show the Cine Africa Cicle and in the Ordem dos Arquitectos, will take place a seminary entitled "Patriomónio(s). Portugal - África" (Patrimony(s). Portugal - Africa).

The VI Biennial of São Tomé and Príncipe: Heritage(s), can be visited through November 30, 2011.

Malangatana Auction "A Italiana" Revoked

A Fiat 500 painted by the recently deceased Mozambican artist Malangatana, was being auctioned during a period with the purpose of raising funds to the Malangatana Valente Ngwenya foundation.

The auction ended on July 6 and it seems that only two offers were made, of which only the one of $150,000 offered by the Banco Comercial de Investimentos (BCI) has been made public.

According to Malangatana's son Mutxhini Malangatana, the result was fell short of expectations and the auction of "A Italiana" (The Italian Woman) was revoked on his instructions, justifying that Malangatana's latest masterpiece was expected to fetch the triple of what was offered, a value far superior to the artist's market value.

"A Italiana" is expected to go again into auction, this time lead by an auction house and for a period of at least two years.

"A Italiana" (The Italian Woman): Malangatana's Masterpiece at Auction

Born on the 6th of June 1936 in Matalana, a village of the district of Marracuene, the Mozambican artist Malangatana Valente Ngwenya dedicated an important part of his life to cultural projects with the objective of helping those in need, with special focus on youth.

The early age of Malangatana was outlined by difficult times, with an absent father and a sick mother he went to live with an uncle and started working with eleven years of age.

It's at the house of the biologist, sculptor and painter Augusto Cabral that Malangatana asks to be taugh painting, later continuing to developing his artistic skills with the sponsorship of the portuguese architect Pancho Guedes.
Soon he starts exhibiting his works and in the 70's travels to Portugal with a Gulbenkian's scholarship.

His name his recognized internationaly and his paintings become part of public and private collections worldwide, including museums.

Malangatana, besides painter was also an actor, poet, dancer and musician, and tried his skills on tapesty and sculpture. He was handed the Prince Claus award, attributed the Honoris Causa degree by the Évora university and nominated Artist for Peace, by Unesco in 1997, including other recognitions.

The artist also known by his close friends as "Crocodile" passed away at the age of 74, in the Hospital Pedro Hispano (Matosinhos, Portugal).

But lets talk about "A Italiana" or "The Italian Woman."

The idea was conceived in the end of 2010, when the long-time friends Malangatana and the Ferreira Dos Santos family together decided to develop a project of artistic and cultural value that would serve as a major beneficial social cause.
Unfortunately the artist would not live to assist the auction of his masterpiece.

Celebrating the official launching of FIAT in Mozambique on the 5th of April in Maputo, a brand new white Fiat 500 1.4 Pop painted by Malangatana is being auctioned until 8 p.m. on the 6th July, 2011, Mozambique time (UTC/GMT + 2 h), during a gala to be organized to this effect.
The minimum bid started at 125.000,00 USD, with minimum increments of 2.500,00 USD.
Auction regulations and FAQs are available for consultation.

The proceeds of the auction will be donated to the Malangatana Valente Ngwenya foundation.

Malangatana's latest masterpice, "A Italiana" (The Italian Woman) resulted in a fusion of Italian design and evocative African symbolism, with native and nature-inspired imagery represented through warm colours in a harmonious composition.
Embelishing the car's rear and the dashboard is the artist's signature embossed in aluminium.

The Fiat 500 and the art materials were donated by Tecnica Industrial, a company part of JFS Group.



Top image source: O País newspaper

Mozambican Painter Malangatana Died With 74 Years of Age

The Mozambican painter Malangatana passed away at the age of 74, in the Hospital Pedro Hispano (Matosinhos, Portugal).

Malangatana Valente Ngwenya (6 June 1936 - 5 December 2010) was born in Matalana, a village of the district of Marracuene, located in the outskirts of at the time called Lourenço Marques, present Maputo.

His father was a miner in South Africa and his mother embroided trousers and would sharpen the teeth of local young girls, a trend at the time.

With a sick mother and an absent father, Malangatana went to live with an uncle, studying until the third grade. He started working with 11 years of age, carrying out tasks such as babysitter or catching balls at the tennis club.

Spending great part of his youth together with portuguese settlers, it was with them that his awaken to the arts took place. One night at the house of the biologist, sculptor and painter Augusto Cabral (1922-2006), Malangatana saw him painting and requested to be taught. He was given some paints, brushes and plywood panels.

The young Malangatana also had the sponsorship of the portuguese architect Pancho Guedes, who offered him a space in the garage of his home in Maputo and would buy him two paintings every month, offering a generous amount.

In few months he manifested the will of showing his works to the public, and the exhibition became an enormous success.

During the 70s he travels to Portugal for the first time, thanks to a Gulbenkian's scholarship.

Politics also played an important role in his life, he was a deputy of FRELIMO between 1990 and 1994 . During the portuguese colonization he was placed into custody due to the suspect of connections with the same group, being released after 18 months at the lack of evidence.

He was one of the founders of the National Art Museum of Mozambique, Unicef colaborator, and initiated the creation of a Cultural Center in his homeland Matalana.

His works were exhibited in Mozambique, Portugal, Angola, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Austria, United States, Bulgaria and India, and can be found in museums, galleries and private collections.

Murals can be found in Maputo, Beira, Colombia, South Africa, Suaziland and Sweden.

The Mozambican artist also tried his artistic skills with pottery, tapestry, engraving and sculpture, he was also an actor, poet, dancer, musician and philantrophist.

Malangatana Valente Ngwenya (crocodile) was attributed the Honoris Causa degree by the Évora university, the Prince Claus award, the medal of the Ordem do Infante D. Henrique, and was nominated Artist for Peace, by Unesco.

Photo by Carlos Lopes (Público newspaper archive)