Artist from Tanzania rediscovers passion for painting

By Kizito Makoye

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AA) - As governments worldwide imposed lockdowns to curb the spread of the COVID-19, Kiyungi Fundikira, a Tanzanian living in Canada, picked up brushes and sketch pencils to return to the world of art.

Having abandoned drawing paintings almost two decades to pursue a career in other fields, the loss of a job forced him to rekindle his talent to earn living.

“Someone from my childhood reminded me that I used to be a very good artist then and challenged me to try again. And here we are,” Fundikira told Anadolu Agency on the eve of World Painters Day, which is being observed on Sunday.

Fundikira had moved to the Canadian city of Toronto in 2000 and since then had left his artistic skills behind by joining the manufacturing and service industry.

“I have recently rediscovered my love for art after not painting in over 30 years. The lockdown influenced me to start painting again,” he said.

Living in Toronto’s North York suburb, he is now working as a paint artist, spending most of his time in his makeshift workshop.

Armed with multiple paint brushes fitted with metal ferrules that fasten the bristles and the handles together, he skillfully paints on a canvas to create a different array of marks.

Although COVID-19 has created untold miseries for people from all walks of life, such as losses of incomes and livelihoods, it was certainly a blessing in disguise for the soft-spoken artist, whose hidden talent is now paying attractive dividends.

“I rediscovered my art during the COVID lockdown, where we ended up staying at home here with not much to do. My friends had never stopped reminding me that I was wasting my talent,” he said.

When Fundikira spotted a picture depicting the Materuni waterfall in Tanzania’s northern Kilimanjaro region, he developed a burning desire to create a work of art. The picture taken by Osse Greca Sinare depicted a scenic area that’s hardly known to the outside world.

“I requested permission to create it in the art form. It was an honor for both of us to somehow collaborate in this endeavor,” he said.

- Rediscovering himself

Armed with his skills, Fundikira recreated the photo as an abstract image to the amazement of everyone.

At the height of the pandemic in 2021, Fundikira would take a bike every evening to take photographs to document his movements.

The creative artist was unknowingly collecting future materials for his abstract art.

“I am now looking back and realize I am the product collector and owner of them all,” he said.

Born in Uganda to Tanzanian parents, the 53-year-old artist began his journey from a humble background in Tabora, a dusty ancient town, whose streets and dotted with mango trees. He also spent much of the time in the Tanzanian port city of Dar es Salaam and thein northern Tanga city, before moving to Canada.

Fundikira said he has rediscovered himself by holding a piece of paper or canvas and the paintbrush, rather than waking up early and rushing to the factory.