Artists Registry

My name is Abu mwenye, I am originally from Tanzania and this is my story. My trip from Africa to the United States was an amazing journey. In July of 2001, l came here hoping and dreaming for a better life. When the plane landed at JFK in New York, I was so nervous and excited at the same time. My nervousness was unnecessary because the people at the airport were so nice! They showed me the whole process through. Then it was time to wait for my uncle’s friend to come and pick me up.
To be in another part of the world knowing that the spoken language is not the same as yours and it is frustrating to try speaking the language with an accent no one understands. My uncle’s friend came and picked me up in New York, and then we were on our way to Waterbury, CT. where he lives. There was no rest, or time to enjoy this new land because now began the process to find a good job, and chase my American dream.
Three months after my arrival the world would change forever. On September 11, 2001 it was just a typical morning, I was watching the music channel on tv, and suddenly the phone rang. It was my friend Ben, who was my host. He told me to put the news channel on, and what he said next was unforgettable; "look what they did to us." At first I didn't understand who “these people” were, but as I continued watching the news I realized these are the same people who attacked the American embassies in Africa, specifically Tanzania and Kenya.
In 1998, I was in Nairobi when the attack happened, and I was heartbroken because they killed a lot of innocent people. The American embassy was very close to Haile Selassie Avenue, and nearby there is the Co-operative Bank of Kenya - Co-operative House, it was my usual way home after school. I was very lucky not to be around that area.
As I am sitting, and reflecting upon the news, I am thinking about how I have moved to America where I thought it would be safer. One time prior to 9/11, Ben and I were driving around in New York and my friend Ben told me, “I will take you there.”, and he pointed his finger to the twin towers buildings which could be seen off in the distance. Now they were no more.
As an artist my mind was swirling and thinking about what could I do to document the history and at the same time share my feelings. I had no job yet, and so it was very difficult nearly impossible for me to buy art supplies. Every weekend when we would go out for groceries, I saw magazines with pictures of the Twin Towers engulfed in a giant ball of fire. Sadness would wash over me thinking about how they were not there anymore, and the tremendous loss of life that occurred that day. From that point on, I started collecting newspapers, magazines, or anything that had photos from 9/11.
After about three weeks, I found my first job working at a store which required me to move. A new chapter in my American life with some friends from Nepal that I used to work with would begin. Things were very crowded, and there were three sleeping in one room so I had to sleep in the living room closet on the floor. One week after starting the job, my first paycheck came so it was now possible to start the project! I bought 36''x46'' canvas, some brushes, and oil paints. The plan for the painting had already been sketched out, so I was ready to begin. There was no drawing easel, so the canvas hung on the wall and the sketching would happen every night after work for about two and half months. It was not easy to adjust to a life here in the U.S. and to find myself sleeping on the floor in the middle of winter.
In four months time, I had saved enough to move, and go to school for certification to become a CNA (certified nursing assistant). Lowell Massachusetts was to be the next destination in my American journey. Once I moved there, I was living with my cousins from Kenya. They helped me enroll in school, and the classes started immediately. At my cousin’s apartment there was no space large enough to hang the canvas, so it would sit in front of me as I sat on the couch sketching. The 12 week program went by quickly, and suddenly I was done with school. With these new qualifications, I could find a job in Lowell, but I decided to move to Worcester instead where I would be living with family friends.

It was a revolving job situation for the next few months, I had a job in a factory for two weeks, then another job at assumption college doing maintenance work. After another two weeks I had saved enough to move and get my own apartment on Woodland Street in Worcester where I was able to build myself an easel. On my days off I continued sketching, but it became necessary for my artistic skill to help pay the bills through commission portraits. It was very hard for people to trust in my artistic abilities/skill because I didn't have a portfolio of work.
As all the changes kept happening I had managed to find a job as a CNA at a healthcare facility in Marlborough. Eventually I moved again with my friend into to a bigger apartment which had more room. It was at that time I was able to buy my first professional easel, and to continue working on this important project. It took me a total of three years to finish. In 2003, I was on the front page of the metro west newspaper in Marlborough for my work on this 9/11 painting which was on display at the facility. Inspiration struck again, so I decided to paint another about the firefighters, and as of this writing the painting is not done yet. When it is completed, my wish is to see these paintings on display where they are supposed to be.

To see more of my painting you can visit my website www.africanartpage.com
I would like to say thanks to my family and friends for their support, especially my mom, wife and kids