tinga tinga, a tanzanian painter that changed african art

Tinga Tinga was born in 1937 in Southern Tanzania to a family of farmers. He moved in 1953 to Dar Es Salam, where he worked on different construction sites. While he was there he saw how many people make so much money by selling their artwork to tourists, so he decided he'd give it a try. He had no art lessons and no money to back his attempt at this, so at first he just used bycicle enamel, house paints, ld paintbrushes, and ceiling boards as a canvas.But he developed his own style of bright, strong colors, and a crowdeedd artwork. He is inspired by wildlife, tribes, and village life.

His paintings were set apert from other touristic arts by their "cheerfull" style and he begun selling many paintings and growing more and more famous. In 1972, his career was at its height, when police thought he was someone else and shot him, and he died. His family and friends who he had tought his style begun the Tinga Tinga cooperative which spread his stle to other parts of Tanzania and Africa.

He is most famous in Japan, Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark, but is known throughout maany other countries.

INspired by his artwork, Tinga Tinga Jungle Pants is a new company from Kenya that makes pants, which they claim are incredibly light weight, comfy, and are good for hiking,climbing and other such stuff. I don't know if this is true, I must admit I've never had a pair so post something in the Guestbook if you did.
Here is their site: Tinga Tinga Jungle Pants

SO do you want to buy Tinga Tinga paintings? Of course the best way it to travel to Tanzania or Kenya but here are a few sites that will help you otherwise (since EBAy and Art By Us have nothing)...
Inside African Art
(I know this isn't much but its all I can find, I'd appreciate it if someone tolod me some other links)