Nobody who sees Godfrey Batte’s art work can easily forget it. From a distance, they seem like a mere set of cutlery. A study of his pottery yields a clear understanding of what transpired in the African Traditional society.

He has made a collection of all the art pieces he ever did since he joined the University. Whichever way you turn, round his corner, there is a unique exhibit of our history in an enviable and precious form. It could be a bark cloth artwork, a touch of wildlife, enchanting landscapes, and pottery pieces of the Bahima culture, which he has visualized to make cups and plates.

Batte seems to have developed a keen interest in Bahima tradition. Every piece of his work seems to reflect the experience of Bahima over time. In fact, if you wanted to know more about the equipment that Bahima use, I would refer you to Batte’s art pieces.

The section with apparatuses was my favorite. There is a fantastic display of cups, kettles, flower vases, pots, sugar bowls, jugs spoons and forks. The same section is a large display showing their original form.

He has molded the Iccumba that was initially used by the Bahima to fetch water from the well to the cattle trough, into a sugar bowl, with a cover in form of a roof of a grass thatched hut.

The Smoking pot known as Ekyanzi was used for smoking utensils. It was shaped like a milk pot, however it did not have a spout and handles. Batte molded a smaller version of this and turned it into a clay kettle.

The impressions of his art come from different sources.

"I focus mainly on human activities, nature, tradition, folklore, dance, music and also on my reminisces," Batte says

Devoted artist

Batte's works span over the three years he has spent at Margret Trowel School of Industrial and Fine Art. They can be found in the Makerere University Art Gallery. 

Batte developed his career out of passion. He went out his parents’ way in order to follow his passion. To his fellow students at Margret Trowel, Batte is considered a born artist.

This collection of art pieces is a climax of Batte’s research and practice in over the past three years he has spent at Makerere University. “I plan to turn this small collection into a museum, as my humble appreciation to my country,” Batte says.

At 22, the eloquent Batte is very enthusiastic and confident about the career path he took. He believes that he will move mountains. He is dedicated, industrious and patriotic with deep interest in the welfare of the less fortunate.

For Batte, art has developed from a pastime into a passion and consequently, into a profession. “My entire joy in life hangs on the tip of a brush,” he says.

He tells a tale of how his father wanted him to pursue a degree in law, an offer he turned down. He decided that he would pay his own tuition just to save his career.

Batte enrolled at Margret Trowel School industrial and Fine Art in 2012, under the private sponsorship scheme. He sells off some of his art pieces in order to raise money for his tuition.