【Event Reports】Gathering to Support Africa Through Art / 1st Tingatinga Cup Charity Competition

CIGARRO's event collaboration series, now in its fifth installment, supports active adults who enjoy both their work and leisure to the fullest.
This time, we changed things up and participated in a charity golf tournament.
What's more, the event was themed around "supporting African pop art," a topic not commonly heard.

In early September, a total of 160 gentlemen and ladies gathered at the prestigious Taiheiyo Club Gotemba West golf course in Shizuoka for a charity competition. It was named the "1st Tingatinga Cup Charity Competition," an event aimed at supporting artists of "Tingatinga," a pop art style painted in Tanzania, Africa.

CIGARRO also endorsed the purpose of this event and participated as a sponsor this time.

The organizer is the General Incorporated Association for African Art Support. The representative encountered Tingatinga art several years ago and established this association to help local artists continue their creative activities with peace of mind. This golf competition was conceived as an opportunity to introduce Tingatinga art to more people, allowing them to purchase their favorite pieces and thereby contribute to local support. When Representative Sone launched the project, the 160 participant slots were filled almost instantly.

Although the weather was a concern in early September when the event was held, it seems the African sun, which Tingatinga art is abundantly exposed to locally, kept the rain clouds away. While not perfectly clear, a pleasant breeze occasionally blew as participants teed off early in the morning. First, everyone enjoyed their golf to the fullest.

Given the nature of a charity competition, many participants met for the first time, but by the time they finished their rounds, everyone was well acquainted. Regardless of their scores, everyone returned with beaming smiles.

Afterward, hundreds of Tingatinga artworks greeted everyone heading to the party venue. Faced with the rich colors and unique touch of Tingatinga art, many immediately began eagerly searching for their favorite piece. Most depicted vivid wildlife against the backdrop of the Tanzanian safari, but there were also pieces capturing their daily lives in cityscapes and portraits of the indigenous Maasai people. While receiving explanations of Tingatinga art from the staff, many chose multiple pieces, saying, "This one is lovely, but that one also catches my eye..."

At the party, Representative Sone meticulously explained the past local support, reports on their creative activities, and how everyone's art purchases would benefit the artists in the future. Furthermore, plans were announced to expand horizontal connections, centered around the participants, as "Team Tinga Tinga" in the future. This marked the first step toward establishing a continuous connection between the distant land of Africa and the gentlemen and ladies of Japan through art.

CIGARRO, in agreement with the purpose of this event organized by the General Incorporated Association for African Art Support, presented shower gels to all participants. Additionally, we provided golf-appropriate prizes for the competition, such as Sunscreen 30 and a playful mouthwash for adults. Coupled with the luxurious prizes provided by other sponsoring companies, the awards ceremony was also a great success.

At the event entrance, CIGARRO's extensive product lineup was displayed. Many people stopped by before and after the party, enjoying the unique world of CIGARRO, with its various fragrances and distinctive packaging designs. We received many grateful comments such as, "Where can I buy these?", "These are perfect for gifts!", and "They're stylish and great as prizes for golf competitions!"

CIGARRO plans to continue actively participating in such events in the future, supporting gentlemen and ladies with a charitable spirit through the aspect of self-care. If you would like us to participate in your event, please feel free to contact us through the inquiry form.

Finally, I will conclude this report by explaining "Tingatinga Art" and the "General Incorporated Association for African Art Support" that supports it.

The General Incorporated Association for African Art Support, which has an official agency contract with them, directly orders and purchases hundreds of paintings annually.
Furthermore, they have continuously provided support, from improving the creative environment by repairing leaky roofs in studios to donating computers for art management and information dissemination.
CIGARRO also endorsed this purpose and supported the event.

■ What is Tingatinga?
Tingatinga, a pop art style born in East Africa, Tanzania, originated from its founder, Edward Saidi Tingatinga (1932-1972), who began painting on the roadside.

At that time, enamel paints and construction boards were used as art materials, and its rustic yet new style, depicting Tanzanian animals and village scenes, gradually gained favor with Westerners, becoming the representative art of East Africa.

Even after Edward's death, his disciples continued his legacy in the same place where he sold his paintings, and the art has evolved. Today, more than 80 artists continue to create various Tingatinga artworks.

■ General Incorporated Association for African Art Support
The General Incorporated Association for African Art Support, which has an official agency contract for Tingatinga art, is an organization aiming to support Africa through Tingatinga. Its goal is to create a cyclical global society by connecting local artists with people in Japan who enjoy their art.

By continuously ordering and purchasing paintings as an incorporated association, they support the style they have created and their way of life as artists who make a living through painting. Furthermore, they are working to make art an attractive profession by improving the production environment and attracting customers through studio repairs, such as leak countermeasures, and donating computers. These activities are not merely aid but aim to support their active self-reliance.

Recently, to give as many children as possible the opportunity to learn about Africa through Tingatinga, donations were made to Gunma Safari Park and three zoos in Yokohama City (Zoorasia, Nogeyama Zoo, and Kanazawa Zoo).

For more details, please refer to the website below.
https://www.tingatinga-jp.org/