Painting MZUGUNO's IN THE GARDEN OF PARADISE Classical Tingatinga

David started painting in 1967. He began trying to sell his paintings at hotels.

He was awarded a prize for one of his paintings in 1969. He continued to work, paint, try to sell paintings as he finished he secondary school education.

Although he had little success as a self employed artist, his feat of getting as far as he did in formal schooling contrasted him with the other native painters of his time who were very fortunate if they completed four years of schooling. After graduation he worked for four years as a mining inspector and continued to paint.

Historically it is worth noting that Mzuguno was a contemporary rather than a student of ES Tingatinga. David's original painting style was realistic, but he realized the sales potential of Tingatinga type of painting. After ES Tingatinga's death in 1972, David became interested in the Tingatinga movement. In 1973 he joined in the formation of TACS founded to keep the Tingatinga style of art alive.

David mastered that way of painting. His works were quickly more successful than others partly because they were distinctive and partly because of his command of English. Eventually he parted with TACS and began to avoid other Tingatinga artists because of accusations of witchcraft. Witchcraft was a common suspicion that arose when one person became more successful than those around him. It also may have coincided with the period of time in which David may have begun painting copies of E.

Tingatinga's paintings complete with Tingatinga's signature but without his own. In the Tingatinga world it is completely acceptable to copy Tingatinga's work, however not signing your own name to it was a step over the line. In any case David's own work was and continues to be successful. In 2009 he was invited to China as a resident painter at the Shenzhen Fine Art Institute. He found he had an affinity with Chinese art and its integration with nature.

He was invited to attended a Tingatinga exhibition in Copenhagen the next year but died before it happened. He left behind 13 children, four whom are excellent painters, and an extensive body of work in collections around the world. Most of David's work is quickly recognizable by its thick black border.