Mshana contributes a valuable Tanzanian perspective to the scholarship on Christian-mission patronage of art in Africa, assessing and contrasting five influential art centers in Tanzania.
— Gary van Wyk, Axis Gallery
Mshana has taken an impressively deep dive into the often overlooked field of African Christian art. He reveals so much about the origins of missionary-based Christian art in Tanzania, and this book is a very appropriate and timely extension of my earlier coverage of this field in Nigeria.
— Nicholas J. Bridger, author of 'Africanizing Christian Art: Kevin Carroll & Yoruba Christian Art in Nigeria'
This book provides essential reading in its exploration of the relationships among Christian church personnel, the visual arts, and African modernities. It is centered on twentieth century developments in Tanzania, including the encouragement of personal artistry, the use of local architectural and sculptural forms, access to international art-making technologies, and the development of local art schools and workshops. Moreover, the discussion situates these developments within the context of similar projects across southern and central Africa, and in Nigeria. This combination of original research and comparative discussion shows how Christian patronage has been an essential component in the histories of twentieth century African art and visual culture.
— John Picton, University of London, SOAS
Mshana offers a valuable contribution to the all too scant scholarship on African Christian art in a generously illustrated volume that will enrich readers interested in religion, expressive cultures, and the many facets of cross-cultural missionary encounters.
— Cécile Fromont, Yale University