Kitamirike's idea of
non-cultural favoritism in art raises the following sets of questions:
"What does it really
mean to be a Ugandan, or an East African in the world today? Do we still
identify ourselves by our ethnic divisions of Ankole, Buganda, Maasai,
Toro, Tutsi, or Acholi? Do these terms still define us as we move into
and across the 21st century’s global landscape? As many of us have traveled,
become urbanized, intermarried, educated, and now intermingle as friends,
lovers and fellow East Africans, do these ancient identities still hold
their same relevance? How can these differentiations acknowledge the
shared cultural heritage unique to all East Africans? Fundamentally,
who are we as a people, as a region which while composed of many parts
increasingly finds itself connected by urbanization and by shared regional
goals? If we choose to move beyond these traditional identities, what
new images of ourselves do we create to replace them? Kitamirike offers
his own answer to these fundamental questions which confront virtually
every East African today. "My paintings are African -- as are we."
