On 6th May 2022, the Embassy officials led by Mr. Greyson Ishengoma, Chargé d'affaires interim on behalf of the Ambassador Baraka H. Luvanda visited the 13th Tingatinga Exhibition in Yokohama. The Embassy officials were greeted and guided by Mr. Tsuyoshi Shimaoka, the Chairman of Baraka Co. Ltd and Mrs. Yumiko Shimaoka, Director of Baraka Co. Ltd who are the organizers of the event.
The Tingatinga Exhibition runs from 28th April 2022 to 8th May 2022 at the Gallery Paris in Nana-ku, Yokohama; and on 20th – 29th May 2022 will be held at Myokoen Museum in Nana-ku, Nagoya as 15th Nagoya Exhibition. This year’s theme is “MAUA YA FURAHA” referring to the
beautiful colorful flowers found in Tanzania.
Tingatinga is a contemporary art that originated in Tanzania, depicting the nature, animals, culture and history of Tanzania. The exhibition was organized by Mr and Mrs Shimaoka, who have been living in Zanzibar, Tanzania for more than 30 years. The company been holding Tingatinga exhibitions in Yokohama and Fukuoka since 2008 to support local artists from Tanzania.
Mr. Shimaoka and his wife not only do business in Tanzania but also teach Judo to the youth of Tanzania (Zanzibar Judo Association) and support artists from the Tingatinga art village in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the number of tourists visiting Tanzania from Japan decreased significantly and local artists who make a living by selling paintings and crafts have been severely affected. Thus, the exhibitions organized by Baraka Co. Ltd assist in promoting Tanzanian products and culture into the Japanese market during this global crisis.
The Embassy and Baraka Company works closely to promote Tanzanian products such as Tanzania traditional and tribal cloths (kanga and vitenge); Tanzanian cuisine like cashews and dates as well as beverages like Africafe coffee, African pride tea and Zanzibar mixed spices.
Some of the Tingatinga Tanzanian art and other Tanzanian products on
display at the 13th Tingatinga Exhibition in Yokohama
