Tanzania starts taking stock of painted arts and cultural carvings sold in overseas galleries

Tanzania is launching efforts to trace the country’s arts and craft products that have always been exported and sold overseas without local producers benefitting.

It is being reported that painted work, including the famous Tinga-Tinga paintings and variety of Makonde carvings, molded images and rock sculptured artifacts from Tanzania are flooding the global markets, some hanging on international galleries and others fetching huge prices on auctions abroad, yet the country of origin is not benefitting.

In order to correct that, the Tanzania International Tourism Festival (TITF), an entity which deals with Arts, Education and Tourism plans to bring together all local artists, sculptors, international arts dealers and diplomatic missions during a forthcoming special event in Arusha.

At least 1500 local and international exhibitors, buyers and art enthusiasts are expected to participate in the inaugural event alongside 10,000 other people who will simply be attending the event.

Ibrahim Othman Jama, the Tanzania International Tourism Festival (TITF) Director said they are working with the National Arts Council (BASATA) as well as Copyright Society of Tanzania (COSOTA) to create a common platform for arts and culture.

“We are also involving the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) so that the country can also earn revenues from local arts products sold abroad,” said Jama.

He added that each painted art, oil on canvas, or sculptured masks, images and cultural icons must now carry certificates of origin, insignia and local trademarks.

Tanzania will also use the platform to create a database of artists, their works, buyers, dealers and the entire trade.

“First and foremost, it is to promote the country and encourage international arts dealers and gallery owners to come and buy the products directly from Tanzania,” said Jama.

“Secondly is to ensure all local artists get recognized for their efforts, generate considerable income from their efforts while also the country gets to earn the required revenues,” added the TITF Director.

TITF is therefore now organizing the first combined Arusha Arts and Craft Festival set to take place in the city from the 6th to the 11th of October 2026.

The aim is to create a link between local sculptors and painters with international buyers as well as Tanzanian envoys abroad so that all the art products sold abroad can get the deserved recognition

Organizers want to bring to Tanzania International arts dealers so that they may come and see for themselves how the local artists paint their works or sculptor their images, right from source.

International arts dealers coming to Tanzania to sample painting and sculptors during the Arusha International Arts and Culture Festival

“Arusha is the hub of tourism, this is where the festival starts but in future the event will be circulating around the Northern Tourism Circuit comprising Kilimanjaro, Manyara and Tanga,” said the organizers.

More than 1500 participants, exhibitors and global arts dealers are expected to attend the event