Tingatinga Arts Cooperative Society

Tucked behind Morogoro Stores in the Msasani area of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the Tingatinga Arts Cooperative Society is a working studio where painters create pictures in the Tingatinga style, making it a hidden gem compared with the better-known souvenir markets. The style began in the 1960s with Edward Said Tingatinga and has since grown into a recognised school of East African art, with bright enamel paints, bold outlines and flat colour fields used to depict animals, birds, fish, village life and fanciful scenes. Because the cooperative is a place where artists actually work, visitors see paintings at every stage, from pencilled outlines on square boards to finished canvases drying in the open air. Conversations with the painters are part of the experience, and visitors can learn how the paints are applied, why certain motifs recur and how apprentices learn from established artists. Pieces sold here come directly from the makers, with prices from about 30,000 TZS (approx. $12) for small works, and larger paintings priced according to size and detail. Bargaining is accepted but should remain respectful, since each sale supports the artists. Custom commissions are sometimes possible, usually with a deposit and a short wait. The studio is open Monday to Saturday from about 9:00 to 17:00, and visits take 45 to 60 minutes. Weekday mornings are best, as painters are at work, the light is good for photography and the space is quiet. Unframed canvases roll flat for travel, and staff can usually provide a tube or wrapping. The studio is a 10 to 15 minute taxi or Bolt ride from Masaki, and it fits neatly into an itinerary with Slipway or a lunch on the Msasani Peninsula. Visitors should carry cash, since card payment may not be available, and should confirm that the painting they choose is complete and dry before packing.