‘Happy Paintings’ therapy for Winnipeg artist who endured poverty, war

WINNIPEG – He has endured poverty, homelessness, and a civil war.  Yet it’s the kindness of strangers that has often influenced Gibril Bangura’s work.

Bangura was just seven years old when he was given his first paint brush by a man he had never met. He had been living on the streets of Freetown, Sierra Leone, for months when an American approached him after watching him draw in the sand.

“He took me to the orphanage and he gave me my first colour set,” said Bangura. “It was a miracle to be able to apply colours to those sketches.”

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What began is a therapy of sorts, a way to escape the “darkness” around him, has now become something he hopes will help others.

“I often hear ‘Gibril, these are such happy paintings,” said Bangura, pointing to one of his pieces. “You have to always believe the future will be bright.”

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Bangura and his family moved to Winnipeg last year as political refugees.

“That’s the one thing about Winnipeg –the place might be super cold, but the people are warm in heart. They are fantastic.”

Bangura’s work is featured on Focus Manitoba, Saturday and Sunday at 6:30 p.m.