Modern and Contemporary
Art Auction East Africa 2018

Dusit D2 Hotel, Nairobi

12 March 2018 · 53 lots

The 5th Art Auction East Africa was a smaller, more intimate event, shaped by the size of the venue. With increased international telephone bidding from regular buyers of African art, sales rose on previous years and there was heavy bidding on lots by artists new to the sale. The auction is now firmly established as an important auction in Africa and a source for excellent East African art, still under-represented in other African and European auction houses.

For the first time the sale featured a selection of modern Nigerian art, which was very well received — every artist sold, with the Twins Seven Seven fetching almost KES 1 million. Of the 53 lots offered, 45 sold — a sell-through rate of 85% — with total sales of KES 21,236,788.

The three highest prices were Geoffrey Mukasa's In the Sugar Plantations (Lot 37) at KES 1,937,100, Yony Waite's Cameleopard in the Clearing (Lot 50) at KES 1,408,800, and Market Chaos by Ghanaian painter Ablade Glover (Lot 52) at KES 1,033,120.

Artist focus: Yony Waite. A founder of Nairobi's Gallery Watatu and a painter of the Kenyan landscape for over five decades, Waite's Cameleopard in the Clearing (Lot 50) was one of her strongest results and part of a steady appreciation in her market that continued after her death in 2024.

Sponsors

dusitD2 Hotels & Resorts
Moët & Chandon
Panesar
P&L Consulting
Ramco Printing

CATALOGUE

Showing 53 of 53 lots

Lot 1 — Charles Sekano, In the Jungle Night

Lot 1

Charles Sekano

In the Jungle Night, 2010

KES 280,000 – 390,000

USD 2,500 – 3,500

Sold KES 375,680

Lot 2 — Geoffrey Mukasa, Birds at Home

Lot 2

Geoffrey Mukasa

Birds at Home, circa 1993

KES 330,000 – 440,000

USD 3,000 – 4,000

Sold KES 997,900

Lot 3 — Mohamed Abdella Otaybi, Against Violence

Lot 3

Mohamed Abdella Otaybi

Against Violence, 2017

KES 160,000 – 220,000

USD 1,450 – 2,000

Sold KES 176,100

Lot 4 — Issam Hafiez, Untitled

Lot 4

Issam Hafiez

Untitled, 2005

KES 180,000 – 220,000

USD 1,850 – 2,250

Sold KES 258,280

Lot 5 — Peterson Kamwathi, Untitled (Sheep on Submarines)

Lot 5

Peterson Kamwathi

Untitled (Sheep on Submarines), 2007

KES 550,000 – 880,000

USD 5,000 – 8,000

Sold KES 939,200

Lot 6 — Gor Soudan, Imprints Lamu Door I

Lot 6

Gor Soudan

Imprints Lamu Door I, 2016

KES 150,000 – 250,000

USD 1,550 – 2,550

Sold KES 281,760

Lot 7 — Rashid Diab, Bird Omen

Lot 7

Rashid Diab

Bird Omen, 2016

KES 1,650,000 – 2,200,000

USD 15,000 – 20,000

Bought in

Lot 8 — Kizito Maria Kasule, The Legacy of Democracy II

Lot 8

Kizito Maria Kasule

The Legacy of Democracy II, 2013

KES 330,000 – 440,000

USD 3,000 – 4,000

Bought in

Lot 9 — Miska Mohmmed, Untitled

Lot 9

Miska Mohmmed

Untitled, 2017

KES 130,000 – 220,000

USD 1,200 – 2,000

Sold KES 446,120

Lot 10 — Laila Mukhtar Adam, People of Kao

Lot 10

Laila Mukhtar Adam

People of Kao, 2017

KES 170,000 – 280,000

USD 1,500 – 2,500

Sold KES 223,060

Lot 11 — Eli Kyeyune, The Discussion

Lot 11

Eli Kyeyune

The Discussion, 1975

KES 660,000 – 880,000

USD 6,000 – 8,000

Sold KES 516,560

Lot 12 — Sanaa Gateja, Home Estate

Lot 12

Sanaa Gateja

Home Estate, 2017

KES 610,000 – 720,000

USD 5,500 – 6,500

Bought in

Lot 13 — Justus Kyalo, Tofauti Yangu Nawe I & II (diptych)

Lot 13

Justus Kyalo

Tofauti Yangu Nawe I & II (diptych), circa 2006

KES 120,000 – 220,000

USD 1,250 – 2,250

Sold KES 328,720

Lot 14 — George William Kyeyune, Landscape with Red

Lot 14

George William Kyeyune

Landscape with Red, circa 1998

KES 330,000 – 440,000

USD 3,000 – 4,000

Sold KES 328,720

Lot 15 — Edward Saidi Tingatinga, Untitled

Lot 15

Edward Saidi Tingatinga

Untitled, circa 1968-72

KES 500,000 – 880,000

USD 4,500 – 8,000

Sold KES 845,280

Lot 16 — Stephen Kasumba, The Artist

Lot 16

Stephen Kasumba

The Artist, 1998

KES 275,000 – 385,000

USD 2,500 – 3,500

Sold KES 258,280

Lot 17 — Rosemary Karuga, Untitled (Woman and Child)

Lot 17

Rosemary Karuga

Untitled (Woman and Child), 1998

KES 110,000 – 250,000

USD 1,150 – 2,550

Sold KES 281,760

Lot 18 — Theresa Musoke, Birds

Lot 18

Theresa Musoke

Birds, circa 2000

KES 100,000 – 200,000

USD 900 – 1,800

Sold KES 223,060

Lot 19 — Paul Onditi, Untitled

Lot 19

Paul Onditi

Untitled, 2014

KES 220,000 – 330,000

USD 2,000 – 3,000

Sold KES 422,640

Lot 20 — Ian Mwesiga, Self Portrait

Lot 20

Ian Mwesiga

Self Portrait, 2017

KES 360,000 – 410,000

USD 3,250 – 3,750

Sold KES 399,160

Lot 21 — Yosef Lule, Past and Future I

Lot 21

Yosef Lule

Past and Future I, 2016

KES 280,000 – 380,000

USD 2,500 – 3,500

Bought in

Lot 22 — Romano Lutwama, Mother and Son

Lot 22

Romano Lutwama

Mother and Son, 1991

KES 300,000 – 410,000

USD 2,750 – 3,750

Sold KES 328,720

Lot 23 — Nadir Tharani, The Magicians’ Dance I

Lot 23

Nadir Tharani

The Magicians’ Dance I, 2017

KES 220,000 – 330,000

USD 2,000 – 3,000

Bought in

Lot 24 — Jak Katarikawe, Catwalk Dreams

Lot 24

Jak Katarikawe

Catwalk Dreams, circa 1991-1992

KES 600,000 – 700,000

USD 6,200 – 7,200

Bought in

Lot 25 — Muraina Oyelami, The Path of Glory

Lot 25

Muraina Oyelami

The Path of Glory, undated

KES 330,000 – 440,000

USD 3,000 – 4,000

Sold KES 328,720

Lot 26 — Bruce Onobrakpeya, Dancing Masquerade

Lot 26

Bruce Onobrakpeya

Dancing Masquerade, 2011

KES 95,000 – 110,000

USD 850 – 1,000

Sold KES 258,280

Lot 27 — Twins Seven Seven, The Hunter

Lot 27

Twins Seven Seven

The Hunter, 1985

KES 440,000 – 770,000

USD 4,000 – 7,000

Sold KES 798,320

Lot 28 — Bruce Onobrakpeya, Ekugbe (Unity) from Ebony Series ll

Lot 28

Bruce Onobrakpeya

Ekugbe (Unity) from Ebony Series ll, 2013

KES 190,000 – 220,000

USD 1,750 – 2,000

Bought in

Lot 29 — Nike Okundaye, Kingdom of Night

Lot 29

Nike Okundaye

Kingdom of Night, 1999

KES 190,000 – 250,000

USD 1,750 – 2,250

Sold KES 305,240

Lot 30 — Rufus Ogundele, Sango Priest

Lot 30

Rufus Ogundele

Sango Priest, 1995

KES 55,000 – 77,000

USD 500 – 700

Sold KES 76,310

Lot 31 — Muraina Oyelami, Joy of Summer

Lot 31

Muraina Oyelami

Joy of Summer, undated

KES 330,000 – 440,000

USD 3,000 – 4,000

Sold KES 2,650

Lot 32 — Robert Saidi, Joy

Lot 32

Robert Saidi

Joy, 1995

KES 190,000 – 280,000

USD 1,750 – 2,500

Sold KES 540,040

Lot 33 — George Lilanga, Untitled (Drummer)

Lot 33

George Lilanga

Untitled (Drummer), undated

KES 240,000 – 380,000

USD 2,200 – 3,500

Sold KES 305,240

Lot 34 — George Lilanga, Untitled (Snake-bite)

Lot 34

George Lilanga

Untitled (Snake-bite), undated

KES 240,000 – 380,000

USD 2,200 – 3,500

Sold KES 258,280

Lot 35 — Bakri Bilal, African Faces

Lot 35

Bakri Bilal

African Faces, 2000

KES 190,000 – 300,000

USD 1,750 – 2,750

Sold KES 211,320

Lot 36 — Elias Jengo, Tsunami

Lot 36

Elias Jengo

Tsunami, 2005

KES 75,000 – 100,000

USD 770 – 1,100

Sold KES 187,840

Lot 37 — Geoffrey Mukasa, In the Sugar Plantations

Lot 37

Geoffrey Mukasa

In the Sugar Plantations, 1993

KES 1,300,000 – 1,980,000

USD 12,000 – 18,000

Sold KES 1,937,100

Lot 38 — Souad Abdel Rassoul, Untitled (Mealtime)

Lot 38

Souad Abdel Rassoul

Untitled (Mealtime), 2013

KES 120,000 – 200,000

USD 1,250 – 2,000

Sold KES 446,120

Lot 39 — Gosette Lubondo, Imaginary Trip VIII

Lot 39

Gosette Lubondo

Imaginary Trip VIII, 2016

KES 280,000 – 380,000

USD 2,500 – 3,500

Sold KES 295,848

Lot 40 — Guillaume Bonn (French/Malagasy, born 1970), The Green Line – Mogadishu

Lot 40

Guillaume Bonn (French/Malagasy, born 1970)

The Green Line – Mogadishu, 2013

KES 220,000 – 330,000

(US$ 2, 000-3,000)

Sold KES 328,720

Lot 41 — Eyerusalem Jirenga, The City of Saints XII

Lot 41

Eyerusalem Jirenga

The City of Saints XII, 2017

KES 220,000 – 270,000

USD 2,000 – 2,500

Sold KES 234,800

Lot 42 — Lawrence ‘Shabu’ Mwangi, Child Has a Shield

Lot 42

Lawrence ‘Shabu’ Mwangi

Child Has a Shield, 2017

KES 300,000 – 360,000

USD 3,000 – 3,700

Bought in

Lot 43 — Edward Njenga, Hello My Dear…EEE…Is That You?

Lot 43

Edward Njenga

Hello My Dear…EEE…Is That You?, 1968

KES 380,000 – 530,000

USD 3,850 – 5,350

Sold KES 410,900

Lot 44 — Edward Njenga, Waiting for Doctor – Eastleigh Clinic

Lot 44

Edward Njenga

Waiting for Doctor – Eastleigh Clinic, 1969

KES 550,000 – 750,000

USD 5,600 – 7,650

Sold KES 587,000

Lot 45 — Peterson Kamwathi, It is Not Clear from Constitution Bull series

Lot 45

Peterson Kamwathi

It is Not Clear from Constitution Bull series, 2005

KES 490,000 – 770,000

USD 4,500 – 7,000

Sold KES 845,280

Lot 46 — Tibebe Terffa, Untitled I

Lot 46

Tibebe Terffa

Untitled I, 2015

KES 380,000 – 490,000

USD 3,500 – 4,500

Sold KES 645,700

Lot 47 — Wanyu Brush, The Lazy Bee, circa 1990 & Three Stages of My Life

Lot 47

Wanyu Brush

The Lazy Bee, circa 1990 & Three Stages of My Life, circa 1990

KES 65,000 – 90,000

USD 670 – 920

Sold KES 129,140

Lot 48 — Tibebe Terffa, Untitled on Paper I, 2003 & Untitled on Paper V

Lot 48

Tibebe Terffa

Untitled on Paper I, 2003 & Untitled on Paper V, 2003

KES 270,000 – 380,000

USD 2,500 – 3,500

Sold KES 352,200

Lot 49 — Fabian Mpagi, Masquerade Fetish

Lot 49

Fabian Mpagi

Masquerade Fetish, 1996

KES 300,000 – 410,000

USD 2,750 – 3,750

Sold KES 469,600

Lot 50 — Yony Waite, Cameleopard in the Clearing

Lot 50

Yony Waite

Cameleopard in the Clearing, 1989

KES 600,000 – 1,000,000

USD 6,100 – 10,200

Sold KES 1,408,800

Lot 51 — Samson ‘Xenson’ Ssenkaaba, Pro Afro Woman

Lot 51

Samson ‘Xenson’ Ssenkaaba

Pro Afro Woman, 2017

KES 280,000 – 550,000

USD 2,500 – 5,000

Sold KES 915,720

Lot 52 — Ablade Glover, Market Chaos

Lot 52

Ablade Glover

Market Chaos, 1999

KES 490,000 – 880,000

USD 4,500 – 8,000

Sold KES 1,033,120

Lot 53 — Wajukuu – Joseph Waweru, Valley of Duty, 2018, Holes, 2018 & Lost Identity

Lot 53

Wajukuu – Joseph Waweru

Valley of Duty, 2018, Holes, 2018 & Lost Identity, 2018

KES 200,000 – 400,000

USD 2,100 – 4,100

Sold KES 293,500