The African Union (AU) says it is placing cultural values at the center of its upcoming Assembly of Heads of State and Government, in an announcement of a theme that will carry throughout the year – a year of both challenge linked to the pandemic and its economic fallout, but…
Another painting by Nigerian master Ben Enwonwu is headed for auction at Sotheby’s later this month, this time with an intriguing story believed to link the work to the Ebira people of central Kogi state. Painted in 1953, “Sefi” features a woman who until recently was known only as the…
Madagascar has welcomed its new Hakanto Contemporary gallery in Antananarivo with an exhibit celebrating local artists in a space committed to contemporary art. The “Here We Reach All the Dreams of the World” exhibit opening showcased Malagasy dancers, musicians, writers, designers and chefs, in a dedication of the 300 square…
The Museum of Black Civilizations in Dakar is celebrating its first anniversary this month with a traveling exhibit of African art, one that originated in Morocco in June and will ultimately return there next year. The “Prête-moi Ton Rêve” exhibit, organized by the Foundation for the Development of Contemporary African…
Germany says it plans to establish an art restitution office by next year, in order to assist museums and other holders of African art in navigating if and how to return pieces to their nations of origin, and ensure those nations find a simpler process for doing so. The move…
Original artwork created by Nelson Mandela will be showcased next week during an auction of Modern and Contemporary African Art at Bonhams in New York. The sketch called “The Cell Door,” created in wax pastel crayon, is part of a series that Mandela began working on in 2002 alongside art…
Senegal opened its long-awaited Musée des Civilisations noires (MCN) on Thursday, with President Macky Sall on hand to deliver the keynote address at inaugural ceremonies in Dakar. The museum realizes a pan-African vision that dates to the era of the country’s first president and was completed with more than USD$34…
French President Emmanual Macron is immediately returning 26 pieces of art and artifacts to the West African nation of Benin, the first objects in a five-year plan to restore art held in French museums to their nations of origin. The 26 items identified by Beninese authorities were taken from the…
Bonhams in London will handle the sale of Tutu, the recently rediscovered portrait of Ife royal princess Adetutu Ademiluyi painted in 1974 by Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu. “In a pioneering move, the sale will be broadcast live to a Bonhams auction event in Lagos, where bidders will be able to…
The Liberian National Museum is nearing completion of an extensive restoration and now advocates for the historic, 155-year-old building are making a new appeal for artifacts lost during the nation’s civil war. Joyce Kenkpen of the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism has announced a “Let’s Save Our Museum”…
An art masterpiece stolen from Italy in 2014 and discovered in Morocco was returned Saturday to Italian authorities. The 17th-century painting by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, known to the art world as Guercino, was stolen from the Church of Saint Vincent of Modena in northern Italy in August 2014. The work,…
The work of acclaimed Ghanaian artist El Anatsui commanded the top price at this week’s Sotheby’s auction, the first modern and contemporary African art sale held by the London house. “Earth Developing More Roots” sold for £728,750, or about USD$945,000, said Sotheby’s in a press release. The sculpture created in…
The United Nations Security Council has moved to strengthen protections against the destruction and trafficking of priceless antiquities and humanity’s shared cultural heritage. Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO – the United Nations entity that helps to protect cultural sites across the globe – hailed the adoption of a new…