Decolonizing African Art History in Tanzania: New Perspectives and Methodologies

African art history in Tanzania has historically been dominated by Eurocentric perspectives, limiting the diversity of narratives and voices represented within the field. The mixed-methods approach includes a survey among Tanzanian artists (n=120) supplemented with ethnographic interviews and archival research. Quantitative data are analysed using descriptive statistics, while thematic analysis is applied to textual content from interviews and documents. Survey results reveal a significant preference for local art forms over imported ones (85% vs. 15%), indicating the resurgence of indigenous cultural practices in contemporary Tanzanian art scenes. The study underscores the importance of adopting inclusive methodologies to accurately represent diverse artistic expressions within African art history. Art historians and curators should embrace hybrid research strategies that integrate multiple sources, including oral histories, local narratives, and digital archives, to enrich their understandings of Tanzanian art traditions.