My meeting with the multitalented Shiija via video call was most memorable. I thought I was dealing with a somewhat introverted artist, but I realized I’d been mistaken. Perhaps she was just reserved since she had no idea who I was.

Shiija is a politically and socially committed artist. So our discussion touched on the place of the artist, particularly the female artist, in Tanzania’s artistic and sociopolitical framework.

Shiija enlightened me on these points, but one of the most salient points in our discussion was when she confided in me that she had commissioned works for high-ranking Tanzanian and foreign political figures, including a former president of Tanzania,

So I was right to “grill” her after she confessed to not liking to talk about her art, but simply leaving free interpretation to her audience. As I kept digging I also discovered that Shiija is an outstanding special effects make-up artist. Clearly, our humble artist has a lot of beautiful secrets, and I’m glad to have them out in the open. 😊

Thanks again for this enlightening discussion Shiija. Keep talking to us through your art. As for me, I loved talking about it with you.

You can follow and contact her here:

https://www.instagram.com/shiij_art/

https://www.instagram.com/shiij_makeupeffects/

To know more about Shiija, check out her presentation video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=_9gxK5VInVg

Location: Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)