The Makonde people are located southeastern Tanzania on the Newalla Platau. They are known for creating a myriad of unique paintings and wooden sculptures that reflect their ancient culture; their vibrant and seductive artwork acts as a medium to channel their culture’s history and traditions. Through their art, the people of Tanzania present a way of life very different from the western world.
This documentary will tell the story of three men and their intertwining connection to the art of the Makonde people: Miroslav Sirs, Tindo Lichanda and Rashidi Mzuguno. This film will show the journey of a men driven to introduce the world to the people of Tanzania. It will show the culture and the simple life behind this unique art that defines the Makonde ethnic group. Most importantly it will show the visually stunning and thought provoking craftsmanship that audiences will thoroughly enjoy.
Tindo Lichanda is a sculptor from Nwanda. After settling in the Chikundi village, he built a life for himself and his family by selling his works. Rashidi Mzuguno is a painter and the son of David Mzuguno, a famous painter. Miroslave Sirs (Miro), an art dealer, is the only character driving this film not of the Makonde people.
He was an engineer from the Czech Republic and discovered his greatest passion for Makonde artwork in 1998. During a five-year stay in Africa for his work, his his passion grew for the African people, their culture and their artwork. Particularly enthralled by Tanzanian artwork, he then dedicated his life to show the rest of the world the Tanzanian culture. Miro works with dozens of artists from the Makonde ethnic group and exhibits their artwork at his gallery in the Czech Republic, the Impala Gallery, as well as in other galleries all over Europe.
The film will open with a small and dusty village in the early morning. The sunrise filters through the cashew trees and chickens dash between the straw huts. The women walk around carrying water buckets on their heads, the children wait for the public bus to school and early morning merchants organize their stands with seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Tindo, a slim black man with colorful beads around his neck, walks ten kilometers from his home. He woke at 4:30 a.m. to collect the wood needed for his carving. He is conducting a search for wood suitable for his statues. The land near him is barren and he spends over two hours to find the perfect piece. Once he finds the wood, Tindo carries it home to start his work. He carves small pieces out of the wood as the children of the village flock around him. They laugh, play and fool around while watching his unique form of artwork come to life.
Tindo took up wood carving in 1961 under an apprenticeship with his father. When his family finally settled in the Chikundi village, Tindo established himself as an artist began creating and selling his pieces on his own. His son, Tobias, follows in his family’s footsteps and also works as a wood carver. He is the manager of the recently opened Makonde Centre located in Chikundi. This is the facility where festivals, music concerts, and markets take place. It is a pivotal location for the Makonde in the area. It allowed them to gather together, have ritual dances, and listen to the local music.
The focus will then fall on Miro at his gallery in the Czech Republic. The place is filled with a cornucopia of pieces he has collected from various Makonde artists. He will be shown describing how he came to find the Makondes, how he feels such a powerful connection with them and he values them so highly. Then we will show his arrival to the village; the people host a festival in honor of his arrival. Miro brings gifts for the children and takes part in their football games.
The next part of the film will center on a painter, Rashidi. His first scene will begin with him intricately adding a detail to a canvas before laying it out to analyze. As the painting continues, he will describe to the audience the process he engages in and what methods he uses for his work. Rashidi lives in Kibamba village, not so far from Dar Es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania. He is a perfectionist who strives to do work that would make his ancestors proud.
Rashidi followed in his father’s footsteps when he became a painter. His now deceased father taught Rashidi the history, culture and style of the Makonde people. He still adheres to his father’s teachings even today. Rashidi hopes to continue his father’s legacy by teaching his children to paint.
The Makonde people are a resilient people. They have resisted persecution by Arab countries. They migrated south to escape enslavement by the Ngoni peoples of Northern Africa. The rebelled against German colonizers in the late 19th century and refused to pay taxes under the rule by the British. Despite all of this, they managed to hold on to their traditions. In 1964, Tanzania finally gained independence from the British.
“Ages ago, a living creature came to one place on the banks of the Ruvuma River. This creature walked upright but did not look like a human being. He did not bathe, did not cut his hair, and only ate and drank a little. He he felt lonely and bored. He then took a piece of bush wood and sculptured a creature from it. He then stood the lifeless creature on the ground and fell asleep. Overnight, this creature came to life as a woman. They were happy together. They bathed and he became a full man while she became a full woman. They ate and drank and settled on the banks of the Ruvuma River.
Later on, the woman gave birth to a dead child. They left searching for another place to have better luck, but another dead child was born. Finally, they moved away from the river and settled on the water less Makonde Plateau. At this place, the woman gave birth to many living children.”
This is the creation legend of the Makonde people. This myth will be a theme to the artwork displayed in the film and will help link the stories three men we will follow. The compelling stories of these three men, the history of the Makonde people and their myths will all be intertwined in this documentary
