Nuwa Wamala Nnyanzi distinguished himself in the 80s and 90s as a batik artist of the very first rank. Later in his storied career he started experimenting with other materials, including oil and acrylic paints, and found that he could succeed outside his comfort zone. Challenge of the First-Born is among several paintings that show Nnyanzi’s versatility with materials and with ideas. The gomesi-wearing girl at the centre of the picture is in fact the figure of the first-born child in the painting’s title, and the upturned faces of the boys beside her hint at the pressure on the girl’s shoulders. This is a masterpiece of composition and style, quite apart from the fact that the color scheme is unforgettable. It is among the collector’s favorites – because he grew up an orphan, the first of three siblings, and was forced to mature very quickly.
