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Art Auction East Africa’s 2026 sale in Nairobi raised KSh46,308,430 (about US$356,219), with 90% of its 68 lots sold, and Tanzanian painter Edward Saidi Tingatinga’s Untitled (Landscape with Lion and Bird) set a world auction record for the artist at KSh7.63 million, according to auctioneers Strauss & Co. The live-virtual sale was held at Circle Art Gallery on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
Top results at Art Auction East Africa 2026
| Artist (country) | Work | Price (KSh) |
|---|---|---|
| Edward Saidi Tingatinga (Tanzania) | Untitled (Landscape with Lion and Bird) | 7,631,000 (world record; over 4x high estimate) |
| Salah Elmur (Sudan) | Untitled (Seated Figure), 2019 | 3,522,000 (24 bids) |
| Peterson Kamwathi (Kenya) | The Two Horse Race, 2004 | 2,113,200 (31 bids) |
| Samuel Wanjau (Kenya) | Untitled carved bird with chicks | 1,761,000 |
| Anthony Wanjau (Kenya) | Dreaming | 1,761,000 |
| Mario Macilau (Mozambique) | Price of Cement series portrait, 2013 | 1,174,000 |
| Jak Katarikawe (Uganda) | Untitled (elephants) | 880,500 |
| Simon George Mpata (Tanzania) | Giraffes and Oxpeckers | 821,800 |
Kenyan artists in demand
Kenyan sculpture did well: Samuel Wanjau’s carved bird with chicks beat its high estimate, and his son Anthony Wanjau’s Dreaming fetched the same price. Peterson Kamwathi’s monotype diptych drew room, phone and online bidders over 31 bids. Ugandan artists Geoffrey Mukasa and Jak Katarikawe also achieved solid prices, several above estimate.
What the results say about the East African art market
A 90% sell-through rate and multiple works above estimate point to steady collector demand, even in a tough economy. “Tonight is proof when things are hard in the world, we need art,” said Danda Jaroljmek, director of Circle Art Agency, who founded Art Auction East Africa in 2013. The partnership with South Africa’s Strauss & Co began in 2025 and brings in online bidders from outside the region.
Should you invest in art?
- Art is illiquid: you may wait years to sell, and auction fees (buyer’s premium and seller’s commission) cut returns.
- Record prices are for rare, well-documented works; most pieces sell near estimate.
- Check provenance, condition and insurance before buying.
- Buy what you like, and treat any gain as a bonus rather than a plan.
Before this sale, we listed the lots, estimates and how to bid.
FAQ
How much did Art Auction East Africa 2026 raise?
KSh46,308,430, with 90% of 68 lots sold.
What was the top lot?
Edward Saidi Tingatinga’s Untitled (Landscape with Lion and Bird), at KSh7.63 million.
Updated October 31, 2026.
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