The artists

Shine Tani was born in 1967 in Ngecha in the Kiambu district of Kenya. He joined Rironi primary school in 1977 and did the certificate of primary examination in 1983. Shine took interest in art with the hope to become an artist, lack of resources did not prepare him easily for such a path and art was not a school subject, however at home his older artistic brothers influenced him very much with their drawings.

Shine first started an acrobatic group, then he lived in the streets for many years while always hoping to become an artist. In 1988 he produced a few paintings and gained the support of Ruth Schaffner from the reknowned Watatu Art Gallery in Nairobi, as well as the attention of art collectors. This self-taught artist grew to become a most famous master in Kenya.

Shine's celebrity quickly spread around the country, and other artists came to his door to seek advice. The Banana Hill Group was born in 1992.  By 1996, the group had some 38 artists, painters and sculptors. For many years, these Kenyan artists worked and lived all together in the Banana Hill building, all developing their individual  styles. Later in 2002 the place was not big enough to accomodate everyone, some careers developped more boldly than others and a select group started to emerge. Shine became the sole owner of the building and he is now the Director of the Banana Hill Art Studio.

Today Shine counts more than 50 artists, he hopes to attract even more from all over Africa and spread the gallery outside african boundaries.