Modern and Contemporary
Art Auction East Africa 2025 | Strauss & Co

Circle Art Gallery and online at invaluable.com

5 November 2025 · 60 lots

This year Art Auction East Africa was a collaboration with the renowned South African auction house Strauss & Co, with the sale held live in Nairobi and broadcast online on the Strauss & Co Invaluable platform.

The auction featured 60 lots, evenly split between modern and contemporary works, representing artists from ten countries. Highlights included the earliest work in the sale, a 1961 painting by Tanzanian artist Kiure Francis Msangi, appearing in our auction for the first time. Also debuting were works by celebrated artists Sam Ntiro, Daudi E. S. Tingatinga (son of Edward Tingatinga), Pilkington Ssengendo, Mishek Masamvu and Hussein Shariffe. 54 lots sold — a sell-through rate of 90% — with total sales of KES 29,260,120.

The three highest prices were Kiure Francis Msangi's Baobab under the Red Moon, 1969 (Lot 26), at KES 3,522,000, his Lusiki, 1961 (Lot 24), at KES 1,584,900, and Sam Ntiro's Working in the Fields, circa 1970s (Lot 39), at KES 1,291,400.

Artist focus: Kiure Francis Msangi. The Tanzanian painter appeared at auction here for the first time and took the two highest prices of the sale outright (Lots 26 and 24) — an immediate arrival at the top of the regional market and the strongest debut in the auction's thirteen years.

Lot 26 — Kiure Francis Msangi, Baobab under the Red Moon, 1969
Lot 26 Kiure Francis Msangi (Tanzanian, 1936 – 2003), Baobab under the Red Moon, 1969. Sold KES 3,522,000

Showing 60 of 60 lots

Lot 1 — Boniface Maina, Diary of the Concealed

Lot 1

Boniface Maina

Diary of the Concealed, 2012

KES 250,000 – 350,000

(US$) 1,970 – 2,750

Sold KES 645,700

Lot 2 — Rosemary Karuga, Hen and its Chicks, circa 1995 – 1998

Lot 2

Rosemary Karuga

Hen and its Chicks, circa 1995 – 1998

KES 250,000 – 350,000 ARR

(US$) 1,970 – 2,750

Bought in

Lot 3 — Ronex Ahimbisibwe, Kissed by the Sun

Lot 3

Ronex Ahimbisibwe

Kissed by the Sun, 2019

KES 495,000 – 645,000

(US$) 3,900 – 5,000

Sold KES 915,720

Lot 4 — Annabelle Wanjiku, Untitled ll, circa 1990s

Lot 4

Annabelle Wanjiku

Untitled ll, circa 1990s

KES 150,000 – 250,000 ARR

(US$) 1,200 – 2,000

Sold KES 176,100

Lot 5 — Michael Adams, Silhouette, 1987, edition 273/500

Lot 5

Michael Adams

Silhouette, 1987, edition 273/500

KES 90,000 – 150,000

(US$) 700 – 1,200

Sold KES 93,980

Lot 6 — Charles Sekano, Untitled (Moon Dancing), circa 1980s – 1990s

Lot 6

Charles Sekano

Untitled (Moon Dancing), circa 1980s – 1990s

KES 350,000 – 600,000

(US$) 2,750 – 4,750

Sold KES 300,000

Lot 7 — Dickens Otieno, Nyagem Tailor, circa 2011 – 2014

Lot 7

Dickens Otieno

Nyagem Tailor, circa 2011 – 2014

KES 350,000 – 500,000

(US$) 2,750 – 4,000

Bought in

Lot 8 — Kamal Shah, Within the Silence

Lot 8

Kamal Shah

Within the Silence, 2008

KES 200,000 – 300,000

(US$) 1,550 – 2,400

Bought in

Lot 9 — Cyrus Kabiru, Same Colours, from the Sun series

Lot 9

Cyrus Kabiru

Same Colours, from the Sun series, 2025

KES 600,000 – 1,000,000

(US$) 4,700 – 8,000

Bought in

Lot 10 — Joseph Ntensibe, Untitled l & ll, circa 2000, sold as a pair

Lot 10

Joseph Ntensibe

Untitled l & ll, circa 2000, sold as a pair

KES 290,000 – 530,000

(US$) 2,250 – 4,150

Sold KES 316,980

Lot 11 — Nadir Tharani, 9-4-3, from the Positions of Power series

Lot 11

Nadir Tharani

9-4-3, from the Positions of Power series, 2014

KES 250,000 – 300,000

(US$) 1,950 – 2,400

Sold KES 180,000

Lot 12 — Geoffrey Mukasa, Boy Seated, circa 2005

Lot 12

Geoffrey Mukasa

Boy Seated, circa 2005

KES 1,300,000 – 1,500,000

(US$) 10,000 – 12,000

Bought in

Lot 13 — Geoffrey Mukasa, Still Life

Lot 13

Geoffrey Mukasa

Still Life, 2007-8

KES 1,000,000 – 1, 450,000

(US$) 7,600 – 11,500

Sold KES 1,174,000

Lot 14 — Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Single Face in Red)

Lot 14

Geoffrey Mukasa

Untitled (Single Face in Red), 1996

KES 500,000 – 800,000

(US$) 4,000 – 6,000

Sold KES 704,400

Lot 15 — Geoffrey Mukasa, Untitled (Seated Nude)

Lot 15

Geoffrey Mukasa

Untitled (Seated Nude), 1992

KES 135,000 – 260,000

(US$) 1,000 – 2,000

Sold KES 152,620

Lot 16 — Fabian Mpagi, Abstract Figures

Lot 16

Fabian Mpagi

Abstract Figures, 1979

KES 530,000 – 800,000

(US$) 4,000 – 6,000

Sold KES 950,940

Lot 17 — Moses Igan Byesonsa, Achulla (Paying the Damages)

Lot 17

Moses Igan Byesonsa

Achulla (Paying the Damages), 2006

KES 370,000 – 530,000

(US$) 2,800 – 4,000

Bought in

Lot 18 — Pilkington Ssengendo, Untitled (Happy Monkeys)

Lot 18

Pilkington Ssengendo

Untitled (Happy Monkeys), 2000

KES 300,000 – 400,000

Sold KES 293,500

Lot 19 — Michael Dimo, Untitled (Standing Figure), circa 1980s

Lot 19

Michael Dimo

Untitled (Standing Figure), circa 1980s

KES 300,000 – 400,000 ARR

(US$) 2,350 – 3,150

Sold KES 410,900

Lot 20 — Gakunju Kaigwa, Mami Wata

Lot 20

Gakunju Kaigwa

Mami Wata, 2025

KES 550,000 – 700,000

(US$) 4,300 – 5,500

Sold KES 692,660

Lot 21 — Augustino Malaba, Untitled, (Listening to the Radio), circa 1990s

Lot 21

Augustino Malaba

Untitled, (Listening to the Radio), circa 1990s

KES 180,000 – 280,000

(US$) 1,400 – 2,200

Sold KES 127,000

Lot 22 — Ancent Soi, Untitled (Cow Herder)

Lot 22

Ancent Soi

Untitled (Cow Herder), 1972

KES 400,000 – 600,000

(US$) 3,150 – 4,750

Sold KES 493,080

Lot 23 — Ancent Soi, Herdsboy Taking Cows Home

Lot 23

Ancent Soi

Herdsboy Taking Cows Home, 1995

KES 530,000 – 660,000

(US$) 4,000 – 5,000

Sold KES 469,600

Lot 24 — Kiure Francis Msangi, Lusiki

Lot 24

Kiure Francis Msangi

Lusiki, 1961

KES 1,000,000 – 1,500,000

(US$) 7,900 – 12,000

Sold KES 1,584,900

Lot 25 — Kiure Francis Msangi, Soul Sister, 1974, edition 34/75, inscribed with the title

Lot 25

Kiure Francis Msangi

Soul Sister, 1974, edition 34/75, inscribed with the title

KES 250,000 – 400,000

(US$) 1,950 – 3,150

Sold KES 469,600

Lot 26 — Kiure Francis Msangi, Baobab under the Red Moon

Lot 26

Kiure Francis Msangi

Baobab under the Red Moon, 1969

KES 1,000,000 – 1,500,000

(US$) 7,900 – 12,000

Sold KES 3,522,000

Lot 27 — Theresa Musoke, Butterfly I, edition 1/1 & Butterfly II, 1/4 (last one available), circa 1963-65

Lot 27

Theresa Musoke

Butterfly I, edition 1/1 & Butterfly II, 1/4 (last one available), circa 1963-65

KES 330,000 – 500,000 for the pair

(US$) 2,600 – 4,000

Sold KES 375,680

Lot 28 — Donald Wasswa, Untitled (Abstract Figures)

Lot 28

Donald Wasswa

Untitled (Abstract Figures), 2017

KES 150,000 – 250,000

(US$) 1,200 – 2,000

Sold KES 140,880

Lot 29 — Sane Wadu, The Labour

Lot 29

Sane Wadu

The Labour, 1990

KES 150,000 – 250,000 ARR

(US$) 1,200 – 2,000

Sold KES 140,880

Lot 30 — Richard Kimathi, Competition l, circa 2005

Lot 30

Richard Kimathi

Competition l, circa 2005

KES 300,000 – 400,000 ARR

(US$) 2,350 – 3,150

Sold KES 352,200

Lot 31 — Justus Kyalo, More Light a Little

Lot 31

Justus Kyalo

More Light a Little, 2021

KES 685,000 – 885,000 ARR

(US$) 5,400 – 7,000

Sold KES 1,056,600

Lot 32 — George Lilanga, Title partially obscured verso (Utali Da..Ngoja Niku..), circa mid 1990s

Lot 32

George Lilanga

Title partially obscured verso (Utali Da..Ngoja Niku..), circa mid 1990s

KES 300,000 – 400,000

(US$) 2,350 – 3,150

Sold KES 254,000

Lot 33 — Simon Mpata, Birds

Lot 33

Simon Mpata

Birds

KES 400,000 – 460,000

(US$) 3,000 – 3,500

Sold KES 399,160

Lot 34 — David Mzuguno, The Peacock, circa 1990

Lot 34

David Mzuguno

The Peacock, circa 1990

KES 400,000 – 460,000

(US$) 3,000 – 3,500

Sold KES 410,900

Lot 35 — Daudi E.S. Tingatinga, Three Storks

Lot 35

Daudi E.S. Tingatinga

Three Storks

KES 180,000 – 280,000 for the pair

(US$) 1,400 – 2,200

Sold KES 258,280

Lot 36 — Adeusi Mandu Mmatambwe, Birds, circa 1972

Lot 36

Adeusi Mandu Mmatambwe

Birds, circa 1972

KES 230,000 – 330,000

(US$) 1,750 – 2,500

Sold KES 258,280

Lot 37 — Mohamed Charinda, Women and water, circa 1985

Lot 37

Mohamed Charinda

Women and water, circa 1985

KES 230,000 – 330,000

(US$) 1,750 – 2,500

Sold KES 234,800

Lot 38 — Elias Jengo, African Drought

Lot 38

Elias Jengo

African Drought, 1997

KES 150,000 – 300,000

(US$) 1,200 – 2,400

Sold KES 234,800

Lot 39 — Sam Ntiro, Working in the Fields, circa 1970s

Lot 39

Sam Ntiro

Working in the Fields, circa 1970s

KES 900,000 – 1,400,000

(US$) 7,000 – 11,000

Sold KES 1,291,400

Lot 40 — Evanson Kang’ethe, Traders

Lot 40

Evanson Kang’ethe

Traders

KES 80,000 – 150,000

(US$) 630 – 1,200

Sold KES 93,920

Lot 41 — Misheck Masamvu, Punishing Elements

Lot 41

Misheck Masamvu

Punishing Elements

KES 200,000 – 350,000 for the pair

(US$) 1,550 – 2,750

Sold KES 293,500

Lot 42 — Yony Waite, Untitled (Zebra), circa early 2000s

Lot 42

Yony Waite

Untitled (Zebra), circa early 2000s

KES 450,000 – 800,000

(US$) 3,550 – 6,300

Sold KES 469,600

Lot 43 — Yony Waite, Lamu Conversations, early 2000s

Lot 43

Yony Waite

Lamu Conversations, early 2000s

KES 60,000 – 100,000

(US$) 470 – 800

Sold KES 258,280

Lot 44 — Jak Katarikawe, The Dream, circa 1997

Lot 44

Jak Katarikawe

The Dream, circa 1997

KES 300,000 – 400,000

(US$) 2,300 – 3,000

Sold KES 328,720

Lot 45 — Beatrice Wanjiku, We Are Who We Are

Lot 45

Beatrice Wanjiku

We Are Who We Are, 2010

KES 800,000 – 1,000,000 ARR

(US$) 6,300 – 8,000

Sold KES 939,200

Lot 46 — Michael Wafula, Feeling Blue

Lot 46

Michael Wafula

Feeling Blue, 2023

KES 200,000 – 300,000

(US$) 1,550 – 2,400

Sold KES 258,280

Lot 47 — Shabu Mwangi, Black Moon

Lot 47

Shabu Mwangi

Black Moon, 2014

KES 350,000 – 450,000

(US$) 2,750 – 3,550

Sold KES 587,000

Lot 48 — Sukuro Etale, Mount Kenya, circa 1985 – 1986

Lot 48

Sukuro Etale

Mount Kenya, circa 1985 – 1986

KES 150,000 – 200,000 ARR

(US$) 1,200 – 1,600

Sold KES 258,280

Lot 49 — Peter Elungat, Voice of the Divine

Lot 49

Peter Elungat

Voice of the Divine, 2016

KES 450,000 – 650,000 ARR

(US$) 3,500 – 5,200

Sold KES 469,600

Lot 50 — Ahmed Abushariaa, Untitled, circa 1990 – 1994

Lot 50

Ahmed Abushariaa

Untitled, circa 1990 – 1994

KES 200,000 – 350,000

(US$) 1,550 – 2,800

Sold KES 446,120

Lot 51 — El Sadig Agena, Untitled

Lot 51

El Sadig Agena

Untitled, 2016

KES 380,000 – 450,000

(US$) 2,900 – 3,550

Sold KES 410,900

Lot 52 — Mahmoud Mohammed Farah, Displacement l (part of the Act of War, Art of War Series)

Lot 52

Mahmoud Mohammed Farah

Displacement l (part of the Act of War, Art of War Series), 2021

KES 380,000 – 450,000

(US$) 2,900 – 3,550

Sold KES 939,200

Lot 53 — Salah Elmur, Untitled I

Lot 53

Salah Elmur

Untitled I

KES 150,000 – 300,000

(US$) 1,200 – 2,400

Sold KES 528,300

Lot 54 — Miska Mohammed, The Movement of Daisies

Lot 54

Miska Mohammed

The Movement of Daisies, 2021

KES 440,000 – 600,000

(US$) 3,500 – 5,000

Sold KES 1,150,520

Lot 55 — Suzan Ibrahim, Struggle for Survival

Lot 55

Suzan Ibrahim

Struggle for Survival, 2024

KES 230,000 – 330,000

(US$) 1,800 – 2,500

Sold KES 469,600

Lot 56 — Hussain Shariffe, Untitled

Lot 56

Hussain Shariffe

Untitled, 1988

KES 360,000 – 540,000

(US$) 2,800 – 4,300

Sold KES 446,120

Lot 57 — Issam Hafiez, Cry Azoum

Lot 57

Issam Hafiez

Cry Azoum, 2005

KES 350,000 – 400,000

(US$) 2,750 – 3,150

Sold KES 645,700

Lot 58 — Sharhabil Ahmed, Your Cousin from Bahrain (from his song of the same name)

Lot 58

Sharhabil Ahmed

Your Cousin from Bahrain (from his song of the same name), 2016

KES 270,000 – 370,000

(US$) 2,000 – 2,800

Sold KES 328,720

Lot 59 — Mohammed Morda, A Conversation Among the Old Gods

Lot 59

Mohammed Morda

A Conversation Among the Old Gods, 2024

KES 150,000 – 220,000

(US$) 1,200 – 1,800

Sold KES 528,300

Lot 60 — Behailu Bezabih, Untitled (Street Scene)

Lot 60

Behailu Bezabih

Untitled (Street Scene), 2004

KES 270,000 – 400,000

(US$) 2,000 – 3,000

Sold KES 328,720