Utenzi wa vita vya uhuru, composed by the noted and prolific Tanzanian author, Shaaban Robert, is possibly the longest utenzi poem ever written. In 3,000 stanzas, Robert recounts the events of World War II from the German invasion of Czechoslovakia…
With the conquest of East African peoples by Germany in Tanganyika and by the British in Kenya, the realities of colonial politics led to further secularization and, along with it, indigenization of thematic material in utenzi poetry. Utenzi wa…
Utendi wa kutawafu Nabii, a characteristic example of the utenzi tradition in its early expression, commemorates the life of the prophet and includes his final message to the faithful before being visited by the angel of death. The poem exemplifies…
Utendi wa kutawafu Nabii, a characteristic example of the utenzi tradition in its early expression, commemorates the life of the prophet and includes his final message to the faithful before being visited by the angel of death. The poem exemplifies…
In this print, a reversal of roles is seen between the hanging feet and the the clothes piled up on the ground. Here I am thinking of feet as vessels in in of themselves, not just part of a vessel, our body. The purpose of feet for those who…
Swahili poetry prior to the twentieth century was written in ajami script that was adapted from Arabic. Many examples of this script have been preserved in manuscript form, as illustrated by the reproduction of the poem shown left, Utumbuizo wa…
The color reduction print relief "Unwritten Love" showcases my imagination and skill. Inspired by various artworks, the piece blends geometric and organic shapes to create balance and movement. Each layer of carving and color application adds depth…