Lonely Planet, a leading travel guide publisher, recently deemed the East African country of Uganda “the world’s top tourist destination for 2012.” In response, visitors are seeking ways to bottle Uganda’s identity and carry it home.
Many find that traditional handicrafts, readily available, sufficiently capture Uganda’s essence. Yet discerning art connoisseurs have long felt a void.
Eager to contribute to a more compelling art scene, Genevieve and Adam Williams moved to Kampala in 2008. In March 2011, this Australian/British couple launched MishMash — an eclectic café, gallery and lounge that showcases many of Uganda’s most inspiring painters, sculptures, dancers, musicians, fashion designers and photographers.
Through individual and themed exhibits, MishMash has displayed the works of more than 50 Ugandan artists, including Collin Sekajugo’s innovative Jerrycan sculptures, Sanaa Gateja’s textile creations (using locally sourced materials) and Jjuuko Hoods’ semi-abstract street scenes of Kampala.
“The original ethos of MishMash was to support only Ugandan artists,” Adam says. “We’ve since strayed a bit from that to include other African artists living here. We’re considering further bending our rules to include [all] expatriates who submit under the theme ‘inspired by Uganda.’”
Genevieve and Adam have no problem bending rules in the name of creativity. The owners consider MishMash a blank canvas and welcome their guests to share ideas and creative concepts. The light fixtures, tall bar tables, dining tables and lounge area all display intriguing workmanship — some created during competitions among local artists. Even the restrooms boast artistic touches, with painted doors depicting various regions of Uganda.
In addition to its décor, MishMash has crafted an appealing blend of art contests and workshops, live music and “moonlight” lawn cinemas — showing art-house movies, documentaries and timeless classics on Kampala’s largest outdoor screen. The café even displays a giant chess set on its grounds, with pieces hand-carved by Ugandan artist Charles Kamya.
Uniqueness at MishMash extends to its menu, with pan-Mediterranean-inspired cuisine made from only the highest-quality ingredients, such as prime-beef fillet stacked on a bed of spinach, and creamy mash topped with sweet pumpkin crisps and red wine jus. Diners can also enjoy a tangy mango lassi, freshly squeezed passion juice or one of eight coffee blends picked by espresso experts.
“MishMash is a wonderful little oasis of art and design,” says James Pearson, frequent patron and co-founder of Ember Arts — a U.S.-based company that partners with women in Uganda to create and sell jewelry. “Uganda’s artistic streak is well represented on everything from the walls to the tables.”
As Uganda approaches its 50-year independence celebration (Oct. 9, 2012), the emergence of art-embracing venues such as MishMash give the country and its people added reasons to celebrate.
Roxanne Robbins is a Munyonyo, Uganda-based journalist who has reported from seven Olympics, the U.S. White House and five continents. She founded the nonprofit Tukutana in 2010 to support orphaned and vulnerable children and their caregivers.