Gadi capturing the essence of Tanzania's past through charcoal

Dar es Salaam. Gadi Ramadhani, a Dar es Salaam-based charcoal artist, is set to unveil a new art studio, Koko'Ten, on October 14, 2023.

The studio will showcase Gadi's work, which brings Tanzania's past to life through charcoal drawings.

Gadi believes that Tanzania's rich history should be expressed through different creative forms so that it can be easily passed down from one generation to another.

He also believes that Tanzania should explore the creative industry, such as drawing historical murals on buildings, to remind society of the things and people that have contributed to the country's success.

One of Gadi's artworks that will be showcased at the opening of his studio is called "My Father's Widow."

It shows a woman wearing two Kanga pieces, one black and white like charcoal and the other pink and white. She holds a wooden scepter in her right hand and rests her left hand on her waist.

"It's an ongoing series that will be exhibited on the studio’s opening," Gadi says.

"I made this artwork to reflect on how incapable society views women when they lose their husbands. This explains why most widows lose all the inheritance when their husbands pass away. Their voices are cut short by male relatives on the husband's side."

Gadi generated this idea during the time when Tanzania lost its fifth president, John Pombe Magufuli, on March 17, 2021, and President Samia Suluhu Hassan ascended to power.

"A lot of people questioned her ability because she is a woman, and my response to that through this art is to showcase how powerful and intelligent women are," Gadi says.

"I linked President Samia's experience with women in most families in Tanzanian societies and the things they go through."

Gadi's history with art goes back to when he was between the age of 14 and 15 years old. His art has been featured in magazines that write about different issues, especially HIV/AIDS.

In 2006, Gadi travelled to South Africa to study Design Foundation and Print Making at Artist Proof Studio in Johannesburg for six years.

When he came back to Tanzania, he found out that there were not enough materials that allowed him to practice art as he would have wanted to, and this led him to learn and adopt the new ways to use charcoal as his medium.

"It was easier to access charcoal because I come from Kigoma, where it is easily obtainable," Gadi says. "Over time, I learned that charcoal makes me calm and confident as I used it, either on paper, canvas or fabric."

As he consistently used it, charcoal became his official medium, and other times, he would use a touch of color to make his artworks more unique. It identified him and his place of origin, Kigoma, as his work crossed Tanzanian borders to be exhibited in different countries such as Belgium, Bangalore, Geneva, Ankara, Addis Ababa, Prince Albert, Uganda, and Kenya.

He has been able to document time as well as his journey through his artworks.

"Becoming a devoted charcoal user in my art has seen my work being showcased in places I have never been," Gadi says. "This has made it to set its own image based on the charcoal that I use to make it."

Throughout his entire journey, Gadi has learned the importance of commitment and discipline when it comes to his work. This has seen him become Project Manager at Nafasi Art Space in 2009.

This led him to become a facilitator and a mentor for the Nafasi Art Academy in 2020.

"I have become consistent in this path as I keep learning and unlearning different things that assist me to grow in my line of work," Gadi says.