The Mall Galleries in London, one of Britain's most prestigious art venues, has opened a solo exhibition by Tanzanian artist Shafina Jaffer titled "Whispers Under Wings: Global Conference of the Birds." This marks a rare and significant moment for East African art on the London stage, bringing international attention to Tanzania's growing artistic community.
The exhibition was officially inaugurated by Tanzania's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mbelwa Kairuki, who praised Jaffer as a cultural bridge-builder. "Shafina's talent and vision beautifully showcase the spirit of Tanzania on the global stage," Kairuki said during the opening ceremony. "Art is indeed a powerful tool of diplomacy and connection. Hongera sana, Shafina! You make Tanzania proud."
Located along The Mall, directly opposite Buckingham Palace, the Mall Galleries serve as a cornerstone of British artistic life. The venue has hosted major exhibitions since Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated it in 1971, featuring everything from the Royal Society of Portrait Painters to contemporary art shows addressing global causes. For Jaffer, exhibiting at this prestigious location represents not only a personal milestone but also symbolic recognition of Tanzania's artistic voice joining Britain's cultural narrative.
Jaffer's artistic signature lies in both her unique medium and innovative methods. She creates her paintings on bark cloth, an ancient and sustainably sourced material, while grinding her own pigments from Tanzanian soil, minerals, plants, and bone. "Each piece carries the spirit of home," she explains. In "Whispers Under Wings," she depicts enlarged African birds on monumental bark cloth panels, drawing inspiration from Farid ud-Din Attar's 12th-century Persian poem "The Conference of the Birds," in which birds seek their divine king only to discover that the truth lies within themselves.
The exhibition opening attracted diplomats, art collectors, and members of London's Tanzanian diaspora. Prominent art critic Tabish Khan praised Jaffer's originality and emotional intelligence, remarking, "This is art that doesn't just impress – it makes you think, and it makes you feel." Many guests noted that her paintings touch the soul and invite reflection, not only on individual lives but also on shared responsibilities to the planet.
Jaffer's rise to international recognition has been remarkably swift. Her painting was projected onto Windsor Castle during King Charles III's Coronation Concert in 2023, an honor that introduced her work to a global audience. Since then, her pieces have entered private and institutional collections worldwide, including cultural centers, hospitals, and schools that promote dialogue and peace. Most recently, she was featured in the August 2025 issue of Air Tanzania's Twiga Magazine, highlighting her growing role as a cultural ambassador for the country.
The artist describes her work as secular yet spiritual, aimed at achieving universal harmony. "My paintings are not bound by creed," she said at the opening. "They are meant to speak to all – to awaken us to the beauty we are entrusted with, and to remind us of the balance we must restore with nature and with one another." For Tanzanians at home and abroad, this exhibition represents a moment of pride, serving as proof that the nation's artistic voices can soar globally, carrying wisdom and beauty under their wings.
