Modern and Contemporary
Art Auction East Africa 2021

Circle Art Gallery and online at invaluable.com

9 November 2021 · 60 lots

A sale of 60 lots of modern and contemporary East African art, offered live in Nairobi and online to bidders around the world.

47 lots sold — a sell-through rate of 78% — with total sales of KES 25,264,910.

The three highest prices were E. S. Tingatinga's Untitled (Kifaru/Rhino), painted between 1970 and 1972 (Lot 25), at KES 3,169,800, Geoffrey Mukasa's Untitled, 2002–2003 (Lot 39), at KES 2,582,800, and Ehoodi Kichapi's Man Against City, 2008 (Lot 57), at KES 1,526,200.

Artist focus: Ehoodi Kichapi. The young Kenyan painter's Man Against City (Lot 57) was the breakout result of the sale, a fourfold rise on his earlier figures and the beginning of one of the sharpest appreciation curves recorded in the auction's history.

Sponsors

Ramco Printing
VMLY&R
Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence Nairobi Arboretum
Glenfiddich
Hendrick's Gin

CATALOGUE

Showing 60 of 60 lots

Lot 1 — George Lilanga, Hiki Ndio Chakula cha Jumuia Lazima Tule Pamoja (This is the food for the community, we must eat together)

Lot 1

George Lilanga

Hiki Ndio Chakula cha Jumuia Lazima Tule Pamoja (This is the food for the community, we must eat together), undated

KES 250,000 – 395,000

USD 2,200 – 3,500

Sold KES 399,160

Lot 2 — Charles Sekano, Untitled (Two Women Standing)

Lot 2

Charles Sekano

Untitled (Two Women Standing), undated

KES 450,000 – 680,000

USD 4,000 – 6,000

Bought in

Lot 3 — Nadir Tharani, For Othman and Saghir

Lot 3

Nadir Tharani

For Othman and Saghir, 2014

KES 250,000 – 360,000

USD 2,200 – 3,200

Sold KES 234,800

Lot 4 — George Kyeyune, Untitled

Lot 4

George Kyeyune

Untitled, 2001

KES 285,000 – 455,000

USD 2,500 – 4,000

Sold KES 422,640

Lot 5 — Peterson Kamwathi, Untitled (Standing Form)

Lot 5

Peterson Kamwathi

Untitled (Standing Form), 2016

KES 120,000 – 150,000 ARR

USD 1,200 – 1,500

Sold KES 199,580

Lot 6 — Rosemary Karuga, Untitled (Buffalo and Birds)

Lot 6

Rosemary Karuga

Untitled (Buffalo and Birds), 1997

KES 200,000 – 300,000 ARR

USD 1,950 – 2,950

Sold KES 246,540

Lot 7 — Sane Wadu, Light the Way

Lot 7

Sane Wadu

Light the Way, 2017

KES 395,000 – 510,000

USD 3,500 – 4,500

Bought in

Lot 8 — Shine Tani, Transporting Love

Lot 8

Shine Tani

Transporting Love, 2013

KES 320,000 – 420,000

USD 3,100 – 4,100

Bought in

Lot 9 — Michael Wafula, Untitled II

Lot 9

Michael Wafula

Untitled II, 2016

KES 230,000 – 330,000

USD 2,250 – 3,200

Sold KES 200,000

Lot 10 — Tabitha wa Thuku, Wet Red Goose

Lot 10

Tabitha wa Thuku

Wet Red Goose, 2007

KES 250,000 – 350,000

USD 2,400 – 3,400

Bought in

Lot 11 — Theresa Musoke, Untitled, 1990s

Lot 11

Theresa Musoke

Untitled, 1990s

KES 395,000 – 510,000

USD 3,500 – 4,500

Sold KES 663,310

Lot 12 — Yony Waite, Lamu Rooftops, 1990s

Lot 12

Yony Waite

Lamu Rooftops, 1990s

KES 150,000 – 200,000

USD 1,450 – 1,950

Sold KES 246,540

Lot 13 — Ahmed Abushariaa, Untitled (Forest)

Lot 13

Ahmed Abushariaa

Untitled (Forest), undated

KES 285,000 – 395,000

USD 2,500 – 3,500

Sold KES 352,200

Lot 14 — Eltayeb Dawelbait, Untitled I (Figure)

Lot 14

Eltayeb Dawelbait

Untitled I (Figure), 1998

KES 150,000 – 250,000

USD 1,450 – 2,450

Bought in

Lot 15 — Wanyu Brush, City of Sodom and Gomorrah

Lot 15

Wanyu Brush

City of Sodom and Gomorrah, undated

KES 79,000 – 101,000

USD 700 – 900 ARR

Sold KES 140,880

Lot 16 — Wanyu Brush, She is Tired, before 2015

Lot 16

Wanyu Brush

She is Tired, before 2015

KES 100,000 – 180,000 ARR

USD 970 – 1,750

Bought in

Lot 17 — Gor Soudan, Untitled VI (from Join the Dots series)

Lot 17

Gor Soudan

Untitled VI (from Join the Dots series), 2015

KES 285,000 – 340,000

USD 2,500 – 3,000

Sold KES 358,070

Lot 18 — Jackie Karuti, How Clouds Are Formed (Weather Instruments)

Lot 18

Jackie Karuti

How Clouds Are Formed (Weather Instruments), 2019

KES 270,000 – 395,000

USD 2,400 – 3,500

Bought in

Lot 19 — Kamal Shah, Young Couple

Lot 19

Kamal Shah

Young Couple, 1997

KES 250,000 – 300,000

USD 2,450 – 2,900

Sold KES 258,280

Lot 20 — Robert Saidi, Untitled (Lady with Flower)

Lot 20

Robert Saidi

Untitled (Lady with Flower), 1994

KES 340,000 – 565,000

USD 3,000 – 5,000

Sold KES 716,140

Lot 21 — Robino Ntila, Mother and Children

Lot 21

Robino Ntila

Mother and Children, 1980

KES 79,000 – 90,000

USD 700 – 800

Sold KES 93,920

Lot 22 — Augustino Malaba, Untitled (Jando), 1998 & Untitled (Musician)

Lot 22

Augustino Malaba

Untitled (Jando), 1998 & Untitled (Musician), 2001

KES 90,000 – 115,000

USD 800 – 1,000

Sold KES 117,400

Lot 23 — Augustino Malaba, Big Ears, Big Mouth

Lot 23

Augustino Malaba

Big Ears, Big Mouth, 2015

KES 205,000 – 315,000

USD 1,800 – 2,800

Sold KES 199,580

Lot 24 — Joseph Bertiers, The Careful Joker

Lot 24

Joseph Bertiers

The Careful Joker, 2015

KES 270,000 – 390,000

USD 2,650 – 3,800

Bought in

Lot 25 — E. S. Tingatinga, Untitled (Kifaru/Rhino), between 1970 – 1972

Lot 25

E. S. Tingatinga

Untitled (Kifaru/Rhino), between 1970 – 1972

KES 900,000 – 2,050,000

USD 8,000 – 18,000

Sold KES 3,169,800

Lot 26 — E. S. Tingatinga, A Kiss, between 1968 – 1972

Lot 26

E. S. Tingatinga

A Kiss, between 1968 – 1972

KES 800,000 – 1,400,000

USD 7,000 – 12,000

Sold KES 1,056,600

Lot 27 — Simon Mpata, Untitled

Lot 27

Simon Mpata

Untitled, undated

KES 285,000 – 395,000

USD 2,500 – 3,500

Sold KES 293,500

Lot 28 — David Mzuguno, Untitled (A Hare in the Bush)

Lot 28

David Mzuguno

Untitled (A Hare in the Bush), undated

KES 230,000 – 340,000

USD 2,000 – 3,000

Sold KES 422,640

Lot 29 — Salah Elmur, Iris Flower

Lot 29

Salah Elmur

Iris Flower, 2020

KES 570,000 – 900,000

USD 5,000 – 8,000

Sold KES 1,056,600

Lot 30 — Mohamed Abdella Otaybi, Three Figures

Lot 30

Mohamed Abdella Otaybi

Three Figures, 2019

KES 340,000 – 570,000

USD 3,000 – 5,000

Sold KES 399,160

Lot 31 — Hassan Fadul, Inside The Ocean

Lot 31

Hassan Fadul

Inside The Ocean, 2006

KES 500,000 – 650,000

USD 4,850 – 6,350

Sold KES 563,520

Lot 32 — El Sadig Agena, Migration to Another Place

Lot 32

El Sadig Agena

Migration to Another Place, 2020

KES 375,000 – 450,000

USD 3,300 – 4,000

Bought in

Lot 33 — Mazola wa Mwashighadi, Enthronement of the Matriarch

Lot 33

Mazola wa Mwashighadi

Enthronement of the Matriarch, 2010

KES 360,000 – 500,000

USD 3,500 – 4,850

Bought in

Lot 34 — Annabelle Wanjiku, Untitled (Birds)

Lot 34

Annabelle Wanjiku

Untitled (Birds), undated

KES 200,000 – 250,000 ARR

USD 1,950 – 2,450

Sold KES 159,600

Lot 35 — Raza Mohammed, African Motif

Lot 35

Raza Mohammed

African Motif, 2001

KES 225,000 – 315,000

USD 2,000 – 2,800

Sold KES 258,280

Lot 36 — Elias Jengo, African Bride

Lot 36

Elias Jengo

African Bride, 2018

KES 285,000 – 375,000

USD 2,500 – 3,300

Lot withdrawn

Lot 37 — Doreen Mandawa, The Mosque Temeke (III)

Lot 37

Doreen Mandawa

The Mosque Temeke (III), 1983

KES 170,000 – 340,000

USD 1,500 – 3,000

Sold KES 469,600

Lot 38 — John Baptist da Silva, Stone Town III

Lot 38

John Baptist da Silva

Stone Town III, 2007

KES 80,000 – 120,000

USD 780 – 1,170

Sold KES 234,800

Lot 39 — Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled

Lot 39

Geoffrey Mukasa

Untitled, 2002 – 2003

KES 1,700,000 – 2,260,000

USD 15,000 – 20,000

Sold KES 2,582,800

Lot 40 — Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled

Lot 40

Geoffrey Mukasa

Untitled, 1991 – 1992

KES 1,360,000 – 2,050,000

USD 12,000 – 18,000

Sold KES 1,000,000

Lot 41 — Livingstone G. K. Nkata, Untitled (Still Life)

Lot 41

Livingstone G. K. Nkata

Untitled (Still Life), 1971

KES 510,000 – 735,000

USD 4,500 – 6,500

Sold KES 486,000

Lot 42 — Romano Lutwama, Untitled

Lot 42

Romano Lutwama

Untitled, undated

KES 395,000 – 510,000

USD 3,500 – 4,500

Bought in

Lot 43 — Kefa Frederick Sempangi, Prayers

Lot 43

Kefa Frederick Sempangi

Prayers, 1969

KES 285,000 – 510,000

USD 2,500 – 4,500

Sold KES 334,590

Lot 44 — Fabian Mpagi, Untitled (The Embrace)

Lot 44

Fabian Mpagi

Untitled (The Embrace), undated

KES 340,000 – 450,000

USD 3,000 – 4,000

Sold KES 375,680

Lot 45 — Banadda Godfrey, Musisi (The Fly Whisk)

Lot 45

Banadda Godfrey

Musisi (The Fly Whisk), 1995

KES 500,000 – 840,000

USD 4,400 – 7,400

Sold KES 528,300

Lot 46 — Muwonge Kyazze Matthias, Gender

Lot 46

Muwonge Kyazze Matthias

Gender, 1998

KES 250,000 – 375,000

USD 2,200 – 3,300

Sold KES 422,640

Lot 47 — Twins Seven Seven, Fura Seller, 1980s

Lot 47

Twins Seven Seven

Fura Seller, 1980s

KES 565,000 – 680,000

USD 5,000 – 6,000

Sold KES 450,000

Lot 48 — Kota Otieno, Untitled

Lot 48

Kota Otieno

Untitled, undated

KES 120,000 – 200,000 ARR

USD 1,170 – 1,950

Sold KES 117,400

Lot 49 — Peterson Kamwathi, Monument II, circa 2012

Lot 49

Peterson Kamwathi

Monument II, circa 2012

KES 680,000 – 1,000,000 ARR

USD 6,000 – 9,000

Sold KES 798,320

Lot 50 — Asteria Malinzi, AM – Departure ll

Lot 50

Asteria Malinzi

AM – Departure ll, 2015

KES 170,000 – 225,000

USD 1,500 – 2,000

Sold KES 187,840

Lot 51 — Cyrus Kabiru, Mapacha (African Twins)

Lot 51

Cyrus Kabiru

Mapacha (African Twins), 2020

KES 350,000 – 500,000

USD 3,400 – 4,850

Sold KES 410,900

Lot 52 — Eria Sane Nsubuga, Vitruvian Androgyny (Metamorphosis of Adam & (St) Eve)

Lot 52

Eria Sane Nsubuga

Vitruvian Androgyny (Metamorphosis of Adam & (St) Eve), undated

KES 315,000 – 395,000

USD 2,800 – 3,500

Sold KES 340,460

Lot 53 — Edward Njenga, City Askari

Lot 53

Edward Njenga

City Askari, 1970

KES 330,000 – 400,000

USD 3,200 – 3,800

Sold KES 352,200

Lot 54 — Tibebe Terffa, Untitled l

Lot 54

Tibebe Terffa

Untitled l, 2016

KES 395,000 – 510,000

USD 3,500 – 4,500

Sold KES 457,860

Lot 55 — Joel Oswaggo, Beer Drinking Ceremony (Luo Culture)

Lot 55

Joel Oswaggo

Beer Drinking Ceremony (Luo Culture), 1998

KES 90,000 – 140,000

USD 870 – 1,360

Sold KES 176,100

Lot 56 — Kaafiri Kariuki, Orchestra ll

Lot 56

Kaafiri Kariuki

Orchestra ll, 2021

KES 225,000 – 340,000

USD 2,000 – 3,000

Bought in

Lot 57 — Ehoodi Kichapi, Man Against City

Lot 57

Ehoodi Kichapi

Man Against City, 2008

KES 200,000 – 280,000 ARR

USD 1,950 – 2,700

Sold KES 1,526,200

Lot 58 — Fitsum Berhe Woldelibanos, Untitled (Blue Boy), circa 2005

Lot 58

Fitsum Berhe Woldelibanos

Untitled (Blue Boy), circa 2005

KES 480,000 – 580,000

USD 4,650 – 5,650

Sold KES 469,600

Lot 59 — Tamrat Gezahegne, Adorned Body

Lot 59

Tamrat Gezahegne

Adorned Body, 2015

KES 340,000 – 450,000

USD 3,000 – 4,000

Sold KES 493,080

Lot 60 — Cyrus Kabiru, Blue Mamba

Lot 60

Cyrus Kabiru

Blue Mamba, 2020

KES 800,000 – 1,300,000

USD 7,750 – 12,650

Sold KES 821,800