Artists part with beautiful work in aid of departed ally

Artists are not always big on talking. Neither are they necessarily effusive when it comes to expressing their feelings. Instead, they tend to express their emotions and deeper thoughts through their art.

That is certainly what a whole lot of Kenyan artists did this past week when they came out at short notice and donated their precious works of art not just to help out the family of the late Ashif ‘Shifta’ Malamba, but also to show their utmost respect for one of our most beloved members of the Maasai Mbili Artists Collective, based in Kibera.

In truth, some of the artists who shared their art so it could be sold for a fraction of what it would otherwise be worth, didn’t necessarily know Ashif well. They might have only known him through his creative and witty works of art.

Financial assistance

The art sale dedicated to Ashif and his family was a three-day affair, running from the Tuesday through Thursday (June 9-11) following artists being informed of the family’s immense need for financial assistance.

It was only on the preceding Sunday that a good group of artists gathered at Kuona Trust to be informed by Paul Onditi, acting as a liaison between the family and Ashif’s fellow artists that the family was counting on their support.

In order to ensure the required Sh250,000 was raised, artists calculated they’d need to see 50 works of art sold at the low price of Sh5,000 a piece to ensure the funds were raised in time.

It might seem miraculous that by the third day of the sale, Kenyan artists rallied with more than 50 artworks donated and nearly all of them sold!

Among the artists who brought in their art for the sale were Samuel Githui, Michael Soi, Thom Ogonga, Maggie Otieno, Cyrun Kabiru, Dennis Muraguri, Kepha Mosoti, Shabu Mwangi and Jessica Atieno, among many others.

A host of other artists also shared their works including Patrick Mukabi, Kamal Shah, Yassir Ali, Tonney Mugo, Wambui Kamiru, Anthony Wanjau, David Mwaniki, Paul Njihia, Maral Blouri, Anthony Wachira, Dale Webster and John Silver.

There were several artists who donated cash to the cause but confessed they couldn’t give away their art. “I’m just too attached to my work to simply give it away,” one said.

In contrast, I found that many artists gave what I feel were some of the finest pieces I have seen them produce in some time. For instance, one painting by Mary Ogembo was a gem as were several of the pieces donated by the Maasai Mbili artist OK Rabala.
And painters like Longinos Nagila, Moses Nyawenda, Alex Njoroge, Lemuk and Fawaz also shared amazing works.

New generation

It was equally refreshing to see that a whole new generation of young Kenyan artists, including Nadia Wamunyu and Ken Otieno were prepared to participate in Ashif’s family art sale by sharing some very interesting pieces.

Worthy cause

Undoubtedly, there are other Kenyan artists who would have donated to the sale if they’d heard about it in good time. But what impressed me about the whole event, including the few days preceding the sale, is the way artists rallied to this worthy cause.

Their response was inspiring especially as we hear so much about how the spirit of Harambee is dead, and now the ethic is ‘every man for himself’.

In contrast, artists by their deeds conveyed a compelling sense of community.

One of the most touching things that took place just prior to the art sale was the way one artist who only spent a year working among Kenyan artists contributed one of his exquisite portraits – in this case, of Wambui Kamiru – to the sale. Ermias Ekube currently stays in Sweden, but he, too, wished to give something special to commemorate this humble Maasai Mbili artist.

Selfless artists

One other initiative conceived to pay tribute to Ashif is a beautiful portrait of him currently being completed by one of his dearest friends, Omosh Kindeh.

I must applaud the artists for giving so selflessly for the sake of helping out a gloriously gifted friend.

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