The third iteration of the Annual Njabala Exhibition (ANE), titled “Njabala: An Elegy,” is currently on display at the Makerere Art Gallery in Kampala, having commenced on March 5 and scheduled to conclude next Saturday. This edition, held in 2024, delves deeply into the theme of grief, as interpreted through the artistic expressions of Liz Kobusinge (Uganda), Lerato Shadi (South Africa/Germany), Helena Uambembe (South Africa), Letaru Dralega (Uganda), Charity Atukunda (Uganda), and Wambui Kamiru Collymore (Kenya).
The exhibition offers a rich tapestry of perspectives on grief, with artists exploring personal, communal, and societal dimensions of this complex emotion. Atukunda’s collection stands out for its poignant exploration of grief. “Joy and Sorrow,” composed of charcoal, soil, mica, glue, and glaze, portrays two sorrowful women adorned with brown embroideries on their dresses, symbolizing the interplay between joy and sorrow in life. Atukunda’s use of materials like charcoal and mica, commonly associated with women, adds layers of symbolism to her artworks, capturing the multifaceted nature of grief.
Beyond individual experiences, Atukunda’s works also delve into broader themes such as cultural identity and tradition. “Untitled,” featuring a pre-made wooden mingling stick embellished with ink and acrylic paint, reflects on the loss of cultural heritage due to colonization and Christianization. Inspired by her late father’s research, Atukunda seamlessly integrates traditional burial rituals into her art, offering a poignant reflection on the impact of cultural displacement on personal identity.
“Dreamscape: A Meeting Point” and “Rituals of Purification” further explore themes of loss and healing, with the former reflecting on the artist’s personal journey through grief following her father’s passing, and the latter examining the significance of death rituals within the Bakiga community.
In addition to Atukunda’s evocative works, Wambui Kamiru Collymore presents an installation titled “All My Venus Days Series 1 (Kampala, 2024),” offering a reflective exploration of grief and resilience in the face of global challenges.
The exhibition also features works by Kobusinge, Uambembe, Shadi, and Dralega, each offering unique insights into grief and healing through their artistry.
Accompanying the exhibition, the Njabala Foundation and Archives of Women Artists, Research, and Exhibition (AWARE) organized a symposium at Makerere University, highlighting the overlooked contributions of women artists from the 1960s across the African continent. This symposium aims to shed light on the narratives and identities of these artists, enriching our understanding of early postcolonial discourses.
Overall, the Njabala Exhibition serves as a platform for collective reflection on loss, healing, and resilience, offering a compassionate exploration of grief’s transformative power and its capacity to foster connections within the global community.
