Modern and Contemporary
Art Auction East Africa 2013

Villa Rosa Kempinski, Nairobi

5 November 2013 · 47 lots

The first ever auction of modern and contemporary East African art in Nairobi. Forty-seven lots were selected from across the region — Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia — drawn from both the primary and the secondary market.

Some of the art in the sale had not been seen in public for decades, among them hidden treasures that form part of Kenya's cultural history, dating from 1967 to 2013. It was a thrilling evening of art buying: 42 of the 47 lots sold, a sell-through rate of 89%, with total sales of KES 18,578,550.

The three highest prices of the night were Geoffrey Mukasa's Celebrations (Lot 33) at KES 1,761,000, Sane Wadu's World Trade Center: New York series (Lot 25) at KES 1,526,200, and The Spirit of Faces by Sudanese artist Eltayeb Dawel Bait (Lot 28) at KES 880,500.

Artist focus: Sane Wadu. One of the founding figures of Kenya's contemporary art scene, Wadu set his own auction record in this first sale with the 1988 World Trade Center painting (Lot 25) — a result that established from the outset that East African contemporary art could command serious prices at home.

Sponsors

I&M Bank Limited
Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi
Jaguar
G.H. Mumm Champagne

Supported by

Safarilink
Heritage Hotels Ltd

CATALOGUE

Showing 47 of 47 lots

Lot 1 — Wanyu Brush, Christ in the Manger

Lot 1

Wanyu Brush

Christ in the Manger, 1990

KES 150,000 – 180,000

USD 1,700 – 2,050

Sold KES 223,060

Lot 2 — Simon Mpata, Untitled

Lot 2

Simon Mpata

Untitled, circa 1981–3

KES 120,000 – 170,000

USD 1,360 – 1,930

Sold KES 258,280

Lot 3 — Joseph Bertiers, The World’s Craziest Bar

Lot 3

Joseph Bertiers

The World’s Craziest Bar, 2013

KES 480,000 – 550,000

USD 5,450 – 6,250

Sold KES 821,800

Lot 4 — Ahmed Abusharia, Untitled

Lot 4

Ahmed Abusharia

Untitled, 2012

KES 160,000 – 200,000

USD 1,820 – 2,270

Sold KES 223,060

Lot 5 — Justus Kyalo, Paths of Rhythm Before Chaos

Lot 5

Justus Kyalo

Paths of Rhythm Before Chaos, 2003–4

KES 550,000 – 700,000

USD 6,250 – 7,950

Bought in

Lot 6 — Behailu Bezibah, To The Market

Lot 6

Behailu Bezibah

To The Market, 2013

KES 40,000 – 50,000

USD 455 – 570

Sold KES 187,840

Lot 7 — Richard Kimathi, Mongooses (Kibera)

Lot 7

Richard Kimathi

Mongooses (Kibera), 2009

KES 300,000 – 350,000

USD 3,400 – 4,000

Bought in

Lot 8 — Peter Ngugi, Untitled

Lot 8

Peter Ngugi

Untitled, circa 1998/9

KES 35,000 – 40,000

USD 400 – 460

Sold KES 164,360

Lot 9 — Peter Ngugi, Untitled

Lot 9

Peter Ngugi

Untitled, circa 1998/9

KES 35,000 – 40,000

USD 400 – 460

Sold KES 187,840

Lot 10 — Jackson Wanjau, Untitled

Lot 10

Jackson Wanjau

Untitled, undated

KES 150,000 – 180,000

USD 1,700 – 2,050

Sold KES 305,240

Lot 11 — Samuel Wanjau, Weaver Bird

Lot 11

Samuel Wanjau

Weaver Bird, undated

KES 250,000 – 300,000

USD 2,840 – 3,410

Sold KES 410,900

Lot 12 — George Lilanga, Nipeleke Hospitalini Mimi Naumwa Sana

Lot 12

George Lilanga

Nipeleke Hospitalini Mimi Naumwa Sana, before 1998

KES 90,000 – 130,000

USD 1,020 – 1,480

Sold KES 305,240

Lot 13 — Daudi Karungi, How about now?

Lot 13

Daudi Karungi

How about now?, 2012

KES 50,000 – 70,000

USD 570 – 800

Sold KES 187,840

Lot 14 — Jak Katarikawe, Untitled

Lot 14

Jak Katarikawe

Untitled, circa 1975–80

KES 750,000 – 900,000

USD 8,520 – 10,200

Sold KES 880,500

Lot 15 — Peterson Kamwathi, Nchi 1 Barcode (Nchi Yetu Series) 2004–5

Lot 15

Peterson Kamwathi

Nchi 1 Barcode (Nchi Yetu Series) 2004–5

KES 100,000 – 150,000

USD 1,140 – 1,700

Sold KES 375,680

Lot 16 — Rosemary Karuga, Untitled

Lot 16

Rosemary Karuga

Untitled, 1998

KES 50,000 – 70,000

USD 570 – 795

Sold KES 258,280

Lot 17 — Geoffrey Mukasa, Lady in Green

Lot 17

Geoffrey Mukasa

Lady in Green, before 2006

KES 250,000 – 300,000

USD 2,840 – 3,410

Sold KES 563,520

Lot 18 — Yony Waite, Hippo’s River

Lot 18

Yony Waite

Hippo’s River, 2008

KES 200,000 – 250,000

USD 2,270 – 2,870

Sold KES 352,200

Lot 19 — Edward Saidi Tingatinga, Untitled

Lot 19

Edward Saidi Tingatinga

Untitled

KES 180,000 – 250,000

USD 2,045 – 2,850

Sold KES 446,120

Lot 20 — Tonio Trzebinski, Untitled, no 6

Lot 20

Tonio Trzebinski

Untitled, no 6, 2000

KES 1,300,000 – 1,500,000

USD 14,800 – 17,000

Bought in

Lot 21 — Charles Sekano, Untitled and undated

Lot 21

Charles Sekano

Untitled and undated

KES 280,000 – 350,000

USD 3,180 – 3,980

Sold KES 469,600

Lot 22 — Edward Njenga, Newspaper Vendor

Lot 22

Edward Njenga

Newspaper Vendor, 1967

KES 200,000 – 300,000

USD 2,270 – 3,410

Sold KES 352,200

Lot 23 — Edward Njenga, Vegetable/Fruit Hawker

Lot 23

Edward Njenga

Vegetable/Fruit Hawker, 1968

KES 200,000 – 300,000

USD 2,270 – 3,410

Sold KES 528,300

Lot 24 — Ancent Soi, Untitled

Lot 24

Ancent Soi

Untitled, 1982

KES 120,000 – 150,000

USD 1,360 – 1,700

Sold KES 164,360

Lot 25 — Sane Wadu, World Trade Center: New York series

Lot 25

Sane Wadu

World Trade Center: New York series, 1988

KES 530,000 – 650,000

USD 6,025 – 7,400

Sold KES 1,526,200

Lot 26 — Fitsum Berhe Woldelibanos, Read me or not

Lot 26

Fitsum Berhe Woldelibanos

Read me or not, 2012

KES 220,000 – 300,000

USD 2,500 – 3,410

Sold KES 645,700

Lot 27 — Allan Githuka, Election Time

Lot 27

Allan Githuka

Election Time, 2013

KES 80,000 – 100,000

USD 910 – 1,140

Sold KES 223,060

Lot 28 — Eltayeb Dawel Bait, The Spirit of Faces

Lot 28

Eltayeb Dawel Bait

The Spirit of Faces, 2011

KES 680,000 – 800,000

USD 7,725 – 9,100

Sold KES 880,500

Lot 29 — Professor Elias Njengo, Halloween In An African Perspective

Lot 29

Professor Elias Njengo

Halloween In An African Perspective, 2003

KES 70,000 – 100,000

USD 795 – 1,140

Sold KES 70,440

Lot 30 — Mary Collis, False Bay Series, each painting is individually titled and dated

Lot 30

Mary Collis

False Bay Series, each painting is individually titled and dated, 2013

KES 180,000 – 200,000

USD 2,045 – 2,270

Sold KES 293,500

Lot 31 — Mazola Wa Mwashighadi, Selma Montgomery March

Lot 31

Mazola Wa Mwashighadi

Selma Montgomery March, undated

KES 140,000 – 180,000

USD 1,590 – 2,050

Sold KES 352,200

Lot 32 — Sebastian Kiarie, My House Help

Lot 32

Sebastian Kiarie

My House Help, 2011

KES 300,000 – 350,000

USD 3,410 – 3,980

Sold KES 610,480

Lot 33 — Geoffrey Mukasa, Celebrations

Lot 33

Geoffrey Mukasa

Celebrations, circa 2006/07

KES 1,000,000 – 1,400,000

USD 11,360 – 15,910

Sold KES 1,761,000

Lot 34 — Ephrem Solomon, Left to right: The Poor Gambler; Untitled; The Gambler 4

Lot 34

Ephrem Solomon

Left to right: The Poor Gambler; Untitled; The Gambler 4, 2013

KES 300,000 – 400,000

USD 3,400 – 4,545

Sold KES 704,400

Lot 35 — Samuel Wanjau, Dancing Warrior

Lot 35

Samuel Wanjau

Dancing Warrior, circa 1978

KES 2,200,000 – 2,500,000

USD 25,000 – 28,500

Bought in

Lot 36 — Kivuthi Mbuno, Kamba Hunters

Lot 36

Kivuthi Mbuno

Kamba Hunters, 2011

KES 550,000 – 650,000

USD 6,250 – 7,390

Bought in

Lot 37 — Evarist Chikawe, Talkertive 1/4

Lot 37

Evarist Chikawe

Talkertive 1/4, undated

KES 20,000 – 25,000

USD 230 – 285

Sold KES 88,050

Lot 38 — Anthony Okello, Masquerade – The Epilogue

Lot 38

Anthony Okello

Masquerade – The Epilogue, 2013

KES 600,000 – 700,000

USD 6,820 – 7,950

Sold KES 880,500

Lot 39 — Eria ‘Sane’ Nsubuga, Christ at Golgotha

Lot 39

Eria ‘Sane’ Nsubuga

Christ at Golgotha, 2013

KES 95,000 – 120,000

USD 1,080 – 1,365

Sold KES 563,520

Lot 40 — Annabel Wanjiku, Mother Nature and her Babies

Lot 40

Annabel Wanjiku

Mother Nature and her Babies, circa 2001

KES 280,000 – 320,000

USD 3,180 – 3,630

Sold KES 410,900

Lot 41 — Joel Oswaggo, ‘A man and his wife drinking their beer at the time of harvesting’

Lot 41

Joel Oswaggo

‘A man and his wife drinking their beer at the time of harvesting’, undated

KES 50,000 – 70,000

USD 570 – 795

Sold KES 117,400

Lot 42 — Joel Oswaggo, Untitled

Lot 42

Joel Oswaggo

Untitled, undated

KES 50,000 – 70,000

USD 570 – 795

Sold KES 105,660

Lot 43 — Kamal Shah, Face to Face

Lot 43

Kamal Shah

Face to Face, 2011

KES 110,000 – 140,000

USD 1,250 – 1,590

Sold KES 199,580

Lot 44 — Paul Onditi, Half Life

Lot 44

Paul Onditi

Half Life, 2013

KES 275,000 – 300,000

USD 3,125 – 3,410

Sold KES 704,400

Lot 45 — James Muriuki, Untitled, from the series Undefined Construction

Lot 45

James Muriuki

Untitled, from the series Undefined Construction, 2012

KES 150,000 – 170,000

USD 1,700 – 1,930

Sold KES 152,620

Lot 46 — Ehoodi Kichapi, Benor or Beast of Burden, circa. 2009

Lot 46

Ehoodi Kichapi

Benor or Beast of Burden, circa. 2009

KES 200,000 – 220,000

USD 2,275 – 2,500

Sold KES 328,720

Lot 47 — Michael Soi, Auction

Lot 47

Michael Soi

Auction, 2013

KES 100,000 – 140,000

USD 1,140 – 1,590

Sold KES 293,500