African Arts Exhibitions to see in 2023

This winter 2023 is marked by bold curations in celebration of life and while the African contemporary scene is cemented globally, beyond, disciplines countries and generations. Our round up explores large-scale retrospectives of living masters starting with Zanele MUHOLI and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye along with selected focus on emerging and rising talents we must keep an eye on such as Emmie Nume and Gaël Maski and many more. All of which is a clear invitation to give flowers in the present time.

LYNETTE YIADOM BOAKYE, Fly with the League in the Night, Tate Britain (London)

Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, *A Passion Like No Other* (2012). Collection Lonti Ebers. ©Courtesy of Lynette Yiadom-Boakye.

The talent of the artist resides in giving birth and transmitting emotions singular to each and Lynette YIADOM-BOAKYE has been a master of the art. Retracing twenty years of practice through 70 artworks, Fly with the League in the Night is a captivating invitation to delve into the world of the British master who takes inspiration from memories, fictional and real pieces of people, sketches, music and even colours. The very distinctive portraits and sceneries depicted by the artist are still in display at Tate Britain. Until February 26th.

2. GEORGE HALLETT, Embedded Text - Embodied Narratives , Peltz Gallery (London)

Embedded Text - Embodied Narratives, is a dialogue relationship between written signs, African literature and image through the work of South African photographer Geroge Hallett. Curated by Christine EYENE. The exhibition explores Hallett’s District Six series in which he captured the life of the culturally mixed neighbourhood in Cape Town in which he grew up and while under Apartheid through the late 60’s. The images focus on street scenes and views in which the walls become textured surfaces combining abstract patterns, graffiti, signs, words, and names of some of the gangs active in the area. As oftentimes the street makes up its rules against structure imposed by public policies. The exhibition shows how written signs shifted from the background in the District Six, to foreground elements cohabiting with pre-existing images and new photographic compositions created for the book covers of the African Writers Series (AWS) published by Heinemann in the 1970s and early 1980s. Additionally, the exhibition showcases some of the source photographs, hand-printed by Hallett, used for the covers. These often feature London-based South African exiles who were anti-apartheid activists, musicians, writers, and visual artists. Until February 7th.

3. ZANELE MUHOLI, MEP (Paris)

Zanele MUHOLI, *Ntozakhe II,* (Parktown 2016) from the series Somnyama Ngonyama.

Different and more recent chapters of the South African society are in display at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP) which has the honour of welcoming the extensive body of work of Zanele MUHOLI and for the first time in France. The multidisciplinary artist and activist has been documenting South African society often using her own body and face when not the story of those invisibilised more particularly the LGBTQIA+ . More than 200 artworks dating back as early as 2000 recounting the stories of those facing ostracism and violence daily but also sharing the little wins and moments of joy. Through her work MUHOLI tells us one hidden layer of history in South Africa. Until May, 21st.

4. CONGO, PASSÉ COMPOSÉ, Angalia Gallery (Paris)

Gaël MASKI, *Behind this limit, the suburbs...* (2022)

Congo, Passé Composé is the first group show set by Angalia Gallery to celebrate their Parisian grand opening. The curation presents the worlds of Congolese artists exclusively from Chérie CHERIN to Freddy TSIMBA, exploring a variety of mediums and influences. Passé Composé is a (re)introduction to the established figures of the Congolese scene dialoguing with their contemporary peers Gaël MASKI, Catheris MONDOMBO to name a few. Until April, 1st.

5. EMMIE NUME, When Thoughts Attack Me, Afriart Gallery (Kampala)

The arborescent and somehow complex mind of the creative is what Emmie Nume tends to expose through his arts. The Uganda-born draws portraits and bodies through layers of lines, timid and sharp with subtle hints of colours. Haunting and deep aura result from his unique approach. Needless to say, the title of the show : When Thoughts Attack Me perfectly encapsulates the chaos inherent to the creative process. Until April 15th.

6. When We See Us, Zeitz Mocaa (Cape Town)

Zandile TSABALALA,Two Reclining Women, 2020

When We See Us : A Century of Black Figuration in Painting is a vibrant large-scale celebration of figurative arts transcontinental. Gathering 200 artworks from prominent and more established figures along with emerging talents over the past 100 years. Borrowing from Ava Duvernay’s When They See Us (2019) the exhibition turns the focus on celebrating joy, organised around six themes: The Everyday, Joy and Revelry, Repose, Sensuality, Spirituality, and Triumph and Emancipation. Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Zandile Tshabalala, Jacob Lawrence, Mmapula Mmakgabo Chéri Samba, Kingsley Sambo, Sungi Mlengeya, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye and many more dialogue between time and space. Until September 3rd.