Hussein Saidi explores Black and African Art in his masterpieces.

Tanzanian Contemporary African Artist

We are SOLD OUT of Hussein's paintings and do not sell his prints.

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About Hussein Saidi

Combine the creativity of an introspective African artist meeting the abundance of intellectual freedom in the United States and you get the result of Hussein Saidi's contemporary African paintings.

Having lived now for almost 25 years with his American family near Washington, D.C. on the border of Maryland, Hussein is an example of a perfected painter. The impact of the culture of the United States has affectively layered over some of the memories of his growing up in Tanga, Tanzania, East Africa, affecting his style in such a way that his paintings take on aspects of American culture, as well as African culture.

Hussein's earlier paintings were much more African art theme based, using colorful acrylics, a common trait used in African paintings. Later, as Hussein's growth matured and his skills became more daring, he mixed a collage of natural materials including banana tree bark, leaves and husks. These were often sewn delicately into his African artwork or woven into other materials in the collage. The natural materials are often shredded, burned or hand dyed out, protected with museum style conservation and varnish. His subjects were enriched with these elements of nature and became more alive, giving his figures 3-D style movement and the paintings themselves rawer, more emotional projections.

Hussein's Black art paintings posted here on True African Art .com reflect scenes of the United States, especially its Autumn seasons and Jazz club scene. Explaining his transitional style from African art to Black art, Hussein Saidi, 45 years old, personally told us that he "develops as an artist when I develop first as a person."

Hussein went on to say that he grew up with the principal that how and why a community of people gather together is a reflection of their friendship towards each other. Thus, this idea is "always the concentration and motivation for my African artwork. People in my native Tanzania come together for any needed and desirous occasions and I reflect that in my work.

Hussein Saidi, this African artist combines traditional African themes with a contemporary Black art touch that focuses on family and community, strongly declaring the concept of people working together. The Tanzanian Swahili word for people working together is "Ujamaa" (short a's) which translates to "Cooperation." But the word "Ujamaa" strongly emphasizes unity in helping your fellow neighbor and being there for each other through any means that are accessible. In Africa's struggling economy, one only has to live with the people for a few months to see exemplary examples of this cooperation and togetherness. Ujamaa also means that one returns the favor to those helping you and those that are there for you. The same meaning is declared with a different Swahili word used in Kenya: "Harambee." (short a's with the e's sounding like a long 'a.')

Of his Black art paintings, Hussein Saidi told us, "I'm not doing this by luck. It's a gift, thus I have to be true to the reason of my art. If I create one piece and everyone likes it, I won't try to create the same piece over and over just because they are popular. I want each African painting to be something that I personally believe in, something that is original, not inspired by popularity. So I follow my instincts and keep on painting. The style might be similar but I don't want the particular artwork to be similar. I have to keep developing my art as I develop as a person. And I don't remain the same, none of us ever should. That's how we fulfill who we were meant to be."

In our interview, we pushed this idea further and asked Hussein, what is the finality with your contemporary African art? What is the end result for your art as a collective work? Hussein responded simply, "If I remain true to my art, then my final goal is a mystery until my last day. There is no such goal for me to know, but if anything, short term wise and practically speaking, I hope that my clients look for me now rather than me looking for them."

Saidi was selected for the US Department of State's "Homage to African-American Artists" Calendar and was given the Award of Merit at the Festival of the Masters in Orlando, Florida in addition to lecturing at Penn State University to its art students.

Finally, Saidi's African artwork was featured on the cover of Sunshine Artist's Magazine with a full article spread devoted to his skill and uniqueness in the field.

Hussein Saidi has a plethora of other awards and honors that he has achieved in his short time of working as a full time artist. Any art enthusiast or collector should see it to verify his Black art's quality and acknowledgment in the art circles around the world.                                                                            

We met Hussein while he was at a local art show in New York.  He travels the country doing them. We are pleased to have partnered with Hussein and to have shared his original African artwork here on True African Art .com.

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See Hussein's international Honors & Exhibits on his Biography Page.