Henry Nkole Tayali was a Zambian painter, printmaker, sculptor and intellectual who trained at Makerere College and Düsseldorf Art College. During his short but remarkable career, Tayali dedicated his art to documenting the lives and hardships of the Zambian people. His paintings and prints often evoked busy urban spaces, particularly bars and cafes, as seen here. Born in the then racially segregated colony of Northern Rhodesia in 1943, Tayali grew up amidst the fight to secure Zambian independence. He played a pivotal role in the cultural and artistic development of Zambia as lecturer in African Art and University artist for the Institute of African Studies in Lusaka and as President of the International Association of Artists. He remains one of Zambia’s most revered artists.