Global South

Trials of cultural independence, Africa goes on stage

The Continent tries to break out of isolation, independent museums and spaces open up to enhance its artistic history

by Riccarda Mandrini

10 November 2025

Museum of West African Art, Binin City, inaugura l’11 novembre 2015

5' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

The African system
Independent spaces
African art in African museums

5' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Conceived as an exhibition, cultural and educational centre, the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) that was supposed to open on 11 November has been halted following protests. The museum will host exhibitions of contemporary artists and historical collections, including important works stolen during colonialism and in the process of being returned, such as the famous 'Benin bronzes'. But on the official preview weekend of the museum in Benin City, the inauguration was interrupted when a group of protesters stormed in, protesting against the institution, which they said was under investigation, and shouting accusations against Godwin Obaseki, former governor of Edo State. The inauguration has been postponed for the time being.

The new museum in Benin City, capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria, inaugurates its first building, designed by architect David Adjaye: it is a complex that aims to become a hub for culture and creativity, with plans for a research and conservation centre for archaeology and various collections, galleries, a concert hall and a hotel. The total cost will be USD 50 million, with the complete campus scheduled for completion in 2028.

Amina Agueznay, Bestiaire - Variation #4, 2024. (Courtesy of Loft Art Gallery)

The inaugural exhibition will be 'Nigeria Imaginary: Homecoming', curated by Aindrea Emelife, an expanded presentation of the one on display at the Nigerian Pavilion of the Venice Art Biennale 2024. The works of the artists present at the 60th edition of the Biennale: Adeniyi-jones, Ndidi Dike, Onyeka Igwe, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Abraham Onoriode Oghobase, Precious Okoyomon, Fatimah Tuggar and Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, will be joined by four new artists, Kelani Abass, Modupeola Fadugba, Ngozi-Omeje Ezema and Isaac Emokpae, whose practices are deeply rooted in the contemporary realities of the country.

Amina Agueznay, Bestiaire - Variation #5, 2024. (Courtesy of Loft Art Gallery)

The African system

The dichotomy based on an art system largely based on the work of private galleries and the emergence of numerous African artists, both modern and contemporary, at an international level, has made the need for African cultural institutions to work on the creation of their own art museums, with a view to reconstructing their artistic history and training their own local audience, increasingly evident.

a Marrakech MACAAL, Musée d’Art Contemporain Al Madeen

In 2018, it opened in Marrakech MACAAL, Musée d'Art Contemporain Al Madeen. Strongly desired by Fondation Alliance and its president, Othman Lazraq, Macaal immediately positioned itself as an African art museum, choosing to break down the barrier between North and South Africa. In the permanent collection the works of the Lazraq family, then acquisitions and exhibitions followed one after the other to form a collection that today consists of more than 2,500 works by modern and contemporary artists. Underlying Macaal is the idea of a museum that leaves no one out, that speaks to many and to each in a different and personal way as a work of art. Among the artists in the collection are Abdoulaye Konaté (range €15,000 - €80,000 at Primo Marella Gallery), Hassan Darsi (prices on request at Comptoir des Mines), Mohamed Melehi, already a top lot at Sotheby's with 'Untitled' paid £101,000 on a maximum estimate of £80,000, prices on request at Loft Art Gallery). Amina Agueznay, who will represent Morocco at the next Venice Biennial 2026, (price range €5,800 - €15,000 for medium-sized works, on request for installations at Loft Art Gallery); but also the young artists Hiba Baddou (€3,000 - €4,000 at Loft Art Gallery) and Aicha Snoussi (range €10,000 - €25,000 at La La Land Gallery).

Independent spaces

Amina Agueznay, Mujah #2, 2025. (Courtesy of Loft Art Gallery)

Offering opportunities and knowledge are fundamental concepts in the milieu of contemporary art in Africa that some artists have wanted to interpret in their own way by organising spaces dedicated to art and culture in their home countries. Emblematic examples are Savanna Centre for Contemporary Art and Red Clay Studio, in Tamale, Ghana, founded by Ibrahim Mahama. An accomplished artist, Mahama came up with the idea of working on a self-financed project for the community of Tamale, his hometown. Savanna Centre for Contemporary Art and Red Clay Studio are two places of study and work, imagined as shared spaces for experiencing art as a form of thought and attitude of life, for every person regardless of age or background. Of course, in the meantime Mahama has become one of the most sought-after artists in the world and his values are on the rise: photographs range between 15,000-100,000 euro, works on canvas between 80,000-180,000 euro and installations from 200,000 to 600,000 euro (from A Palazzo Gallery).

Internationally acclaimed Madagascar artist Joel Andrianomerisoa (with Funds Yavarhoussen) also created in 2020 in Antananarivo Hakanto Contemporary, a space to support artists, where they can work and exchange ideas and where in the absence of museums, people can get to know if not international art, then the contemporary art of their own country. Prices for Andrianomerisoa range from EUR 5,000 for small works, to EUR 10-30,000 for medium-sized works and from EUR 70,000 for large installations (Primo Marella Gallery).

Hakanto contemporary ad Antananarivo, capitale del Madacascar

"Knowing one's history, one's culture is a value for people," is the strong conviction of Sonia Lawson, director of the cultural centre Palais de Lomé in Lomé, Togo. Opened in 2020 after the renovation of the former colonial palace, Lawson wanted to decline the museum's programme with a series of photographic and art exhibitions to tell people about its artistic and social history. "Most of our audience is under 35 years old. There are many young people in their twenties. With our exhibitions we are training a new generation of users by putting them in dialogue with their culture, historical, modern and contemporary. We do not have a permanent collection yet,' reflects Lawson, 'but we will get there'.

African Art in African Museums

In Cape Town, the Iziko South African National Gallery is housed in the fine colonial building of the former Company's Garden. Iziko boasts a collection of over 5,000 works and is the only museum in South Africa that has a collection of works by modern South African black artists. Masters who have helped write a part of their country's art history, but who still do not have a gallery. Their works are available through auctions. Among the best known Gerard Sekoto (1913 - 1993), who, after the presentation of his canvases at "Paris Noir" at the Centre Pompidou this year, boasts rising performances. 'Artist's Brother' sold for £406,000 at Bonhams in London last March. In May 2025 in Cape Town, 'Walking Figures', 1974, from a French private collection changed hands for 808,000 Tsars (about EUR 40,400), more than three times the price fetched a few months earlier. Peter Clarke (1929-2024), poet and artist, among the top lot, "Desire", a mother with her baby, paid $115,000 in 2013, from Welz&Co. Sydney Kumalo (1935-1988), painter and sculptor, in 2021 touched his world record of 3.750.000 Tsar (EUR 189,000), with the bronze 'Saint Francis',David Koloane (1938-2023), the abstract canvas 'Wedding Dance', 1986, reached last June, 176,000 Tsar (just over EUR 8,800).

Ingresso del Zeitz Mocaa, Museum of Contemporary African Art di Cape Town

Already well known, housed in a fully restored silo, the Zeitz Mocaa, Museum of Contemporary African Art in Cape Town displays exhibitions by artists from sub-Saharan Africa: it is a world-class collection of contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. There are over 300 works in the collection, including big names such as Abdullaye Konaté, El Anatsui, Willam Kentridge, Ghada Amer (prices on reserve), and mid-career artists such as Gonçalo Mubunda (range 5.000-30,000 euros, from Lis10), Dan Halter (3,000-26,000 euros) and Sethembile Msezana (4,000-26,000 euros, both Osart Gallery).