How to rekindling its spirit COMMENT | Dion Forster | If the media, popular entertainment, and retail habits are taken as indicators then the celebration of Christmas is no longer just the reserve of Christians. This has some consequences for the religious and non-religious alike. In popular culture and the media, Christmas …
Read More »Green bottles and blue denim
An artivist’s guide to saving the planet Kampala, Uganda | Atieno Odera | At the Climate Story Lab Africa 2022 edition, a woman dressed in a costume made with over 500 green plastic bottles struts onstage in a fully packed auditorium. “Kiragala Kiragala! Chetwagalo Kulagula! The energy is rising…filling up the air! …
Read More »Uganda at 60 Exhibition
‘Exhibition celebrates the excitement, optimism and promise of 9th October 1962 while acknowledging that, for many Ugandans Independence was partial victory’- Exhibition catalogue There’re two things that will catch your attention as soon as you walk into the exhibition: Uganda at 60 showing at the Uganda Museum: Firstly, the black …
Read More »Sanaa Gateja at 58th Carnegie International
The exhibition presents historical works from collections of international institutions, estates and artists, alongside new commissions and recent works by contemporary artists Kamapala, Uganda | DOMINIC MUWANGUZI | Sanaa Gateja is no stranger to international showcase of his art and reputation. He has over the decades showcased his art at …
Read More »Buganda Kingdom painting
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 …
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