Page 55 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 1

OTHER ARTS FROM AFRICA ISSUE ONE | JULY/AUG

Raphael Macaulay
Singer/Songwriter/Musician
Album: Great Things Again

A native of Ondo State, Nigeria and a graduate of History and
International studies from Lagos State University. Raphael is
an ordained Apostle, married to Lydia, also a pastor in their
ministry.
We asked Raphael about the heart behind his recent album,
Great Things Again and he said: “I began to look back at the
things I have been through, how the Lord showed up for me
so many times, even when I didn’t know. The Lord is great and
whatever he does is great. We humans have a definition of
what greatness is, but to the Lord, every act of kindness from
Him is great.”
The album features 9 tracks and Great Things Again is both the
album and main track title.
You can find his music at: https://spiricoco.com/artists/
raphael-macaulay/
or Contact him at: raphaelmacaulay612@gmail.com

Benson Murage

Kenyan Artist

Self-taught mixed medium artist and
painter Benson Murage was born in
Kenya. “I’ve been in this field of Art for
about two decades. I never went to
school for it, but I had a chance to be with
some of my colleagues who nurtured me
in art for at least one year and that’s how
this Murage Art was born.”
“I do a lot of things, I use even waste…
you know art is so broad we cannot this to say, “I think mostly I’m inspired as an artist I can only communicate
accomplish everything in art, because by God. You know God is the biggest through my paintings. That is the only
out of everything you make, you make artist we have. Yeah. I am inspired way God has given me. For me, painting
art. I use both oils, acrylics. (Points to by God. God inspires me. You know is my language. Sometimes I may lack
a painting)… I have used both eggshells when I look at everything and um it’s how I can talk and you understand me,
and acrylic on top. But even if it was uh just amazing to see how He’s a great but through my paintings somehow you
just the eggshells alone, it comes out so artist.” can understand.”
nicely.” Murage is currently looking for market “I teach people. They just come here [to
Murage mentioned that the most for his pieces in Europe and the west his workshop] for lessons. In fact, today
challenging part of his work is dealing because he believes that’s where I was talking with another parent and
with Africans. He says, “You know I think we have the right market for art. We she was telling me her children are so
somehow and especially Kenyans, they wanted to find out how to develop the interested in art. So I asked her, because
killed art when they put it out of school market in Africa and he said, “I think she is a teacher, do you teach art in your
and it’s a challenge. I wish they could it has to start with the schools. Like school? And she said, ‘yes but no. Yes it
realize that they killed it. Because when I was telling you, we have to study is there, but the teacher who is there has
people are coming to buy art, they just somewhere, at least [so] people can little knowledge about art.’ You see? And
consider it like sugar. You know they understand. You see, I have dealt that’s something we are getting wrong.
weigh it like sugar. And when you charge with people who have money, but We get the wrong people to do the right
them, they don’t consider that it’s a these people have proved that they task. But I just wish I could get the
luxury, it’s expensive. Art is supposed lack the knowledge about art. They opportunity to teach these children. So
to be expensive, it’s not supposed to be don’t know. You go to their houses; many people have passed through my
cheap. Because what you’re buying is you find nothing on their walls or just hands and some of them have excelled.”
somebody’s creation. Kenyans don’t have paper posters. So you know it is that
that enough value for art.” knowledge they are lacking.” Benson can be reached at:
When asked what inspires him, he had “We need to let them understand that bensonmurage74@gmail.com
+254 (0) 722 508161

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