The story of an artist whose imagination became part of East Africa’s modern art history
Jak Katarikawe (1938–2018) occupies a distinctive place in the history of East African art. Born in Kigezi, southwestern Uganda, Katarikawe developed a visual language deeply connected to memory, rural life, dreams and storytelling. His paintings, populated by people, animals and imagined worlds, would eventually bring him international recognition and establish him as one of the region’s best-known artists.
But the story of Katarikawe’s career is also closely connected to Nairobi and, in particular, to Gallery Watatu and its director, Ruth Schaffner.
Finding a Voice Through Art
Katarikawe’s journey as an artist was unconventional. He did not follow the traditional path of formal art education. His early life in rural Uganda and his experiences of Kiga culture became important sources for the imagery and stories that would later appear in his paintings.
His artistic abilities were recognised while he was in Kampala, where he came into contact with people who encouraged his talent. Among those who played an important role in his development were Professor David Cook and artist Sam Ntiro. These encounters helped Katarikawe begin to explore painting more seriously and to develop the storytelling approach that would become central to his work.
His paintings were never simply about depicting what he saw. They were about transforming experience into stories.
Animals, families, lovers, village scenes and rural landscapes became characters in a visual world where reality and imagination existed together. His long-horned cattle and elephants, in particular, became recurring figures within his distinctive artistic vocabulary.
The Move to Nairobi
The political and social upheavals in Uganda eventually shaped the direction of Katarikawe’s life. After spending time away from Kampala, he moved to Nairobi in the early 1980s.
Nairobi was developing into an important centre for modern and contemporary art in East Africa. The city provided Katarikawe with opportunities to exhibit his work and to connect with an expanding community of artists, collectors and cultural institutions.
His work was shown at spaces including Paa ya Paa Art Centre and Gallery Watatu, placing him within a generation of artists who helped shape Nairobi’s emerging art scene.
It was through this environment that his career became increasingly connected to Gallery Watatu.
Ruth Schaffner and Gallery Watatu
The relationship between Jak Katarikawe and Ruth Schaffner is an important part of the history of Gallery Watatu.
When Schaffner became the owner and director of Gallery Watatu, she recognised the power and individuality of Katarikawe’s work. She became an important mentor and supporter of the artist, helping to promote his paintings to audiences beyond Kenya.
Under Schaffner’s direction, Gallery Watatu became an important platform for Katarikawe’s work. The gallery’s international connections helped his paintings reach collectors and audiences outside East Africa, contributing to his growing reputation.
For Katarikawe, the relationship was about more than exhibiting paintings. Schaffner became an important figure in his professional life and played a significant role in helping him navigate the international art world.
Through Gallery Watatu, his visual stories travelled further.
Painting the World of Dreams
Katarikawe’s paintings are immediately recognisable for their distinctive combination of colour, imagination and narrative.
His works often present scenes that appear familiar yet somehow exist outside ordinary reality. People and animals occupy the same visual world. Rural landscapes become stages for stories about love, family, relationships, morality and human experience.
The elephant, the cow and other animals appear repeatedly, sometimes as symbols and sometimes almost as characters in a continuing story.
This storytelling quality became one of the defining characteristics of his work.
Katarikawe’s paintings invite the viewer to look closely, but they also invite the viewer to ask questions: What is happening in this scene? Who are these people? Why are the animals here? What story is being told?
In this way, his paintings operate much like oral storytelling traditions—where meaning is revealed gradually through characters, symbols and narrative.
Gallery Watatu and the Wider East African Art Story
The importance of Katarikawe’s relationship with Gallery Watatu extends beyond his individual career.
Gallery Watatu was part of a wider movement that helped establish Nairobi as an important centre for modern and contemporary African art. The gallery provided a platform for artists whose work challenged narrow ideas about what African art could be.
Artists such as Katarikawe developed deeply personal approaches to painting, drawing from their own experiences and cultural environments while reaching audiences far beyond the region.
The story of Gallery Watatu is therefore also a story about networks: artists, gallery owners, patrons, collectors and cultural advocates working together to create greater visibility for East African art.
Within this history, Katarikawe’s career stands out as an example of how an artist’s distinctive voice could travel from local experience to international recognition.
A Legacy Beyond Gallery Watatu
Katarikawe’s work eventually reached audiences across Africa, Europe and the United States. His paintings became part of important private and public collections, while exhibitions and publications continued to introduce new audiences to his work.
Yet his legacy remains deeply connected to the East African art community that nurtured his career.
The story of Jak Katarikawe and Gallery Watatu reminds us that artistic legacies are rarely created by artists alone. They are shaped by relationships, opportunities, mentorship and the institutions that choose to preserve and promote creative work.
For the Diawara & Schaffner Archive, Katarikawe’s story offers an important window into this history.
It allows us to look beyond the individual painting and consider the network of people and places that helped East African art find its place in the wider world.
Remembering Jak Katarikawe
Jak Katarikawe left behind a body of work filled with colour, humour, mystery and imagination. His paintings continue to tell stories—stories rooted in East African experience yet open to interpretation by audiences everywhere.
His career is also a reminder of the importance of preserving the history of the galleries and individuals who supported artists during formative periods in their careers.
Gallery Watatu was one such place.
Through the story of Jak Katarikawe, we can revisit a significant chapter in the history of East African art and recognise the role that Ruth Schaffner and Gallery Watatu played in bringing artists and their stories to a wider audience.
Today, Katarikawe’s paintings remain a testament to the power of visual storytelling—and to the enduring legacy of an artist who transformed memories, dreams and everyday life into a world of his own.
The story continues through the works, archives and memories that remain.