Charles Njau was born in Marangu, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania on the slopes of Africas highest peak and the worlds tallest free-standing mountain, of his mother Martha Njau who is a teacher and his father Ainainy Njau (1918-2006) was a statesman, great man of justice, visionary and a scholar who studied Law, History, Economics, Physics, Mathematics, Music (piano and guitar), Latin, English Literature, Religion, Sociology, Political Science, Psychology, Philosophy and Journalism at Makerere University in Uganda and with determined efforts, in South Africa and in the United Kingdom by correspondence.

Charles parents brought to the world eleven children of their own namely, Ebba Ainainy Njau (always very compassionate and brilliant, she scored highest marks in schools and loved to help others, she had great mind and great heart); Charles Ainainy Njau; John Ainainy Njau; Esther Ainainy Njau; Sarah Ainainy Njau; Joseph Ainainy Njau; Elizabeth Ainainy Njau; Mary Ainainy Njau; Julius Ainainy Njau; Furaha Ainainy Njau and Joyce Ainainy Njau. Six more children were adopted: Richard Ainainy Njau; David Ainainy Njau; Lucy Ainainy Njau; Rose Ainainy Njau; Steven Ainainy Njau; Mary Ainainy Njau Junior and Irene Ainainy Njau.

As they got older, Charles parents continued with the adoption of more children in order to help them get good education. At one time in this home of Charles parents there were twenty four children living together and going to school. This included children of other people who did not have good schools at the places they were born. This kind of support enabled all children living in this home have the same best opportunities to pursue their studies successfully.

Charles father was the President of TANFU with profound knowledge and esteem. He visited President Kwame Nkurumah (1909-1972) of Ghana and President Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-1970) of Egypt in the 1960s to campaign about the need for African Unity. He also met President Julius K. Nyerere (1922-1999) of Tanzania a lot of times to discuss important matters. He was the first person in Tanzania to import a radio that needed to use car batteries in order to function. He could tune and listen to any radio station around the world from the beginning of the 1950s. He wanted Charles to consider studying Science in order to be astronaut.

Charles Njau's imagery does not merge into its context without conflict. In his paintings, elements meet, borrow the colors of each other while still keeping their own distinct character. One part is immediately accessible while another is introvert, personal - whether a zebra skin is baptised in Swedish national colours or narrative images of city people are disguised in a kaleidoscopic camouflage pattern of bright colours. This is an apt metaphor for the new Swedish visual culture.

Charlotte Bydler

Artist Charles Njau