Tinga Tinga Arts Cooperative Society

The Tinga Tinga Arts Cooperative Society (TACS) has a fascinating history rooted in the Tanzanian Tingatinga painting style, pioneered by Edward Saidi Tingatinga in the late 1960s. Tingatinga started painting vibrant scenes on chipboards using bicycle paint, which gained popularity among his friends and family.

Tragically, Tingatinga passed away in 1972, but his fellow painters formed TACS to continue his artistic legacy. Established in 1990, the cooperative has provided a platform for nearly 100 painters, including a few women, who see themselves as Tingatinga's successors.

TACS not only teaches Tingatinga-style painting but also helps artists sell their work internationally for a living. With support from the Swiss development association Helvetas, TACS gained momentum in the late 1990s, organizing successful exhibitions to fund a shelter in Dar es Salaam. Since 2007, TACS has aimed for self-sufficiency, promoting Tanzanian culture independently while honouring Tingatinga's enduring legacy.