"Art means life to me."

Growing up, Mmbuji was considered quite rambunctious, always drawing on the couches and on the walls at home. This often annoyed his parents. It was only when he started school that he received praise for his paintings; the teachers saw it as a gift. That was a turning point for him. Thereafter, his mother started to respect his work and encourage him to keep on going.

Initially, Mmbuji had dreams of becoming a pastor but then, after learning of his talent, these dreams evolved. His late uncle was a great source of inspiration because whenever him and his best friend visited him, they would be so engulfed with the way he would paint to the point they would not want to eat nor leave. The colours and how he applied them is what attracted Mmbuji the most; it felt like he could hear the sound of the colours in his heart. As a result, when Mmbuji started painting, he drew inspiration from his heart and he would paint for fun. However, when he learned that you could earn a living from art through galleries, that is when he decided to pursue his career doing art. He started with painting on paper then moved to canvas, experimenting with beads here and there.

Mmbuji’s artwork captures the beauty of people and culture within the local landscape. As well as the attractive animals, that surround Tanzania’s expansive terrain. As a person who loves to explore new places and expand his knowledge, Mmbuji’s dream is to become a successful world-renowned artist.