The artist figuratively explores and interrogates the subject of peace tranquility in the Monarchy Kamapala, Uganda | DOMINIC MUWANGUZI | Buganda is the largest Kingdom in Uganda occupying vast territory across the country. Since the precolonial times, the monarchy has hosted several groups of people including Arab traders, European explorers …
Read More »Sungi Choreographs at (Un)Choreographed show
Artist delves into the subject of dance as metaphor for Black women liberation and empowerment | DOMINIC MUWANGUZI | Artist, Sungi Mlengeya’s recent solo show (Un)choreographed is about celebration of dance in everyday life. This should not come as a surprise since the artist easily admits to love the art …
Read More »Katikkiro Mayiga cautions gov’t on teachers’ strike
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Katikkiro Peter Mayiga has appealed to government to give equitable pay to both Arts and Science teachers in order to solve the current strike in schools. While addressing the Buganda Lukiiko on Monday, Mayiga said that Arts teachers are equally important to the nation …
Read More »Teachers’ pay must correspond, MPs insist
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Legislators have called on government to treat teachers equally following the increment in the salaries for science teachers in public schools. The increment which commences in the new Financial Year 2022/2023 locks out arts teachers, a development that has caused acrimony among different stakeholders with the …
Read More »ARTS: Leilah Babirye
Artist reclaims her sexuality | THE INDEPENDENT | New York-based Ugandan artist Leilah Babirye’s hand-carved wood and ceramic sculptures—many of them figures and faces inspired by African masks that seek to expore the diversity of LGBTQI identities—have captured the attention of the international art world. The 36-year old went abroad …
Read More »Controversy in Ugandan art
When paranoia for controversy clashes with financial ambition Kampala, Uganda | DOMINIC MUWANGUZI | In 2010 the first edition of the Controversial Art Exhibition was mounted at Afriart gallery, Kampala. It was a brainchild of the art gallery, under the patronage of Kampala Arts Trust, a creative collective of visual …
Read More »Batiks straddling art and craft
Retrospection on impact on local art appreciation Kampala, Uganda | DOMINIC MUWANGUZI | You have probably seen this type of art in craft shops. Often there is a dry savannah with wildlife imagery in form of elephant, giraffe or lion. On other occasions, it will be abstract human figures in …
Read More »Rosemary Karuga: An icon of resilience
She embarked on an active art career after clocking more than a century old but became one to reckon with, with paper collages that combine extraordinary detail and charming simplicity. | DOMINIC MUWANGUZI | A typical story of a female student of fine art in the early years of Makerere …
Read More »Adoption of Visual Arts in the fight against HIV and Aids
Functional artworks break the cultural barriers and stigma surrounding HIV/ Aids awareness ARTS | Dominic Muwanguzi | HIV/ Aids is stills a major threat to the life and livelihood of young people in Uganda. This in spite of the numerous interventions by government and foreign stakeholders to create awareness among young …
Read More »Inspired by the ordinary
Kateregga captures the everyday in his gripping paintings THE INDEPENDENT | DOMINIC MUWANGUZI | Not very far from the artist’s studio, you can hear the constant piercing sound of metal fabricators welding and hammering away at aluminum- steel metal. They fabricate the material to produce windows and doors for the …
Read More »