Nyumba Ya Sanaa Artists

Augustino Malaba, 1980s, woodblock

At Nyumba Ya Sanaa in Dar es Salaam, various creative activities took place, including woodblock printing on handmade paper, batik, fabric printing, and sculpture. In 1972, Augustino Malaba moved from the Mutwala region in southern Tanzania to Dar es Salaam and played a key role in establishing “Nyumba ya Sana'a,” a communal artist studio and cultural center founded by Sister Jean Pruitt of the Maryknoll Sisters. As one of the studio’s early artists, Malaba invited many others to join, including Robino Ntila and his nephew, George Lilanga. Although he did not achieve the same international renown as Lilanga, Malaba—who passed away in 2021—was one of Tanzania’s most beloved Makonde sculptors and a master of printmaking. Malaba was the recipient of the prestigious Zeze Award, presented annually by Muhuko wa Utamaduni, and is featured in the Smithsonian Library’s African Art Index Project entry “Agostino Malaba,” "Tanzanian Culture and Customs" by Kefa M. Otiso, and "Art Movements in Tanzania" by George Lilanga, Robino Ntila, and Augustino Malaba.