Magazine
Elimo Njau’s living art is testimony of the present and past
The shell of the original burnt gallery still stands unrestored, being used as an open-roofed gallery. Photo/RHODIA MANN
Posted Monday, March 15 2010 at 00:00
In the spirit of a now Independent Kenya, he broke away from colonialism, encouraging African art to be seen as truly African.
His writings made him unpopular with his landlord, and eventually he was asked to relocate.
It was then that a five-acre plot of land became available on Ridgeways Road off Kiambu Road, and in 1971 sponsorship was found to purchase it.
That is how Njau found his current base.
He is still there, aided by his indispensable second wife Phillda, a gifted and dedicated musician, teacher and photographer.
Between the two of them, this small corner of Kenya continues to be a hive of artistic activity.
He loathes what he calls “mob-ocracy” and “comfort-ocracy.”
He detests “art in a frame.” Instead, he believes art should be an essential part of daily life, helping us distinguish right from wrong, and beauty from that which is ugly.
Rhodia Mann is a writer, jewellery designer, ethnographer, film maker and safari guide, and a former owner of Gallery Watatu in Nairobi.
E-mail:rhodia.mann@yahoo.com
Gallery contact: Email: info@paayapaa.com. Mobile phone: 0733 270109
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