Banana Hill Art Gallery presents The African Horizons, a solo exhibition by Tanzanian artist Haji Chilonga.

Born in 1969 in the Masasi District of Tanzania’s Mtwara Region, Haji Chilonga comes from a family deeply connected to craft through blacksmithing and pottery. His artistic ability was evident from a young age, earning him responsibility for creating artwork during his primary school years.

After relocating to Dar es Salaam in the mid-1980s, Chilonga developed his skills through portrait painting and sign writing before committing fully to fine art practice in 1992. His work spans painting and sculpture, with a strong focus on figurative imagery and everyday experiences. Through his art, Chilonga shares personal reflection, social commentary, and moments of lived reality.

Chilonga has taken part in numerous local and international workshops and attended the Salzburg International Summer Academy in Austria in 2007 and 2014. His achievements include Third Prize at the 2011 Italian Embassy art competition marking Italian unification, and selection among the Top Ten artists in the Art Against AIDS initiative by MACMILLAN in South Africa.

The African Horizons brings together works that reflect decades of sustained practice and observation, offering audiences a thoughtful and engaging encounter with contemporary East African art.

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