Every person has a force that pushes them to do what they do, with passion, the results are remarkable. In the case of 22-year-old Gabin Mazina, telling African history through art is his calling. Being a painter and digital artist pushed him out of his comfort zone. He was disappointed with how many Africans copy western culture, and so he decided to tell African stories— what he’d read and been told—through art. “Africans need to fall in love with their own things, for instance, culture, life and mostly their inventiveness, and not be drawn to other cultures,” he says. As a child, Mazina lacked the means to express his ideas, but drew pictures on walls using charcoal. At times, he utilised the back space of his notebooks to draw and shade. As a child, he didn’t give it much thought. But later, having discovered that he had something unique to show the world, he started valuing it. In 2019, he started doing art as a profession. Lack of enough funds didn’t hinder him from doing what he enjoys, and he set up an art studio in one of the rooms at his home in Remera. The artist explains that it was really hard at the time. He didn’t have the means to compete at art shows, and also no connections. So he kept boosting his skills through YouTube tutorials. He says that art materials have been expensive and are still, as some are imported. The materials that he uses are acrylic paint, brushes, and pallet knives, in painting. For digital art, he uses a computer and some software like Photoshop. He also uses oil paints, charcoal pencils, some digital tablets like Wacom and Huion. As he paints, he doesn’t only portray the humble lifestyle in Africa but also shows Africa’s great leaders, to appreciate the history and to motivate Africans to be proud of their motherland and what they are blessed with. He loves painting while listening to music. That way, he is less distracted and just intrigued to create something innovative. A portrait can take two to three days to complete but simple sketches which don’t require details only take a few minutes. “My role model is Jean Michel Basquiat, an Afro-American who did his art in the late 70s and 80s. The fact that he beat the odds to rise in that period where racism in America was at a high level, is great motivation for me,” Mazina says. His painting prices depend on the size and the medium (materials) he uses. The prices range from Rwf 50,000 to Rwf 400,000 per art piece. He has grown to sell his work to the US, Netherlands, UK, and Belgium. He anticipates expanding, having his own gallery, and helping other upcoming artists who struggle with getting art materials. The painter is also looking forward to having his paintings displayed in well-known worldwide art galleries and museums, mostly to inspire young people. With financial support, he hopes to set up a local art centre that will teach Rwandans how to draw and earn from art. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology at University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK).
