Art Moves Africa – Retracing Roots and Tracing New Routes: Mobility and Touring in North Africa

17
Introduction
In order of volume of exchange with North Africa, the
following countries are most active:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Senegal
Cameroon and South Africa
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Ethiopia
Burkina Faso
Kenya and Tanzania
Côte d’Ivoire
Mali
Nigeria
Most exchanges happen with West Africa, with Senegal,
Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Nigeria being the
most active countries. Egypt has relatively strong links
with Nigeria. The Dakar Biennale is repeatedly cited as
a reference for visual artists across North Africa; other
events that are often noted include the Marché
des Arts et du Spectacle (MASA – Market for
Performing Arts) in Abidjan and the Bamako
and Lagos biennales.
Exchange is roughly the same with South, Central
and East Africa (14 – 16%). Cameroon is by
far the country in Central Africa that generates
the most exchange, with strong ties to Morocco
and Egypt in particular; it is followed by
DRC. In East Africa, Ethiopia is the country that
generates the most exchange, largely thanks to
strong ties with Egypt; Kenya and Tanzania are
the other two major hubs for mobility. In Southern
Africa, South Africa is by far the country
that generates the most exchange, presumably
due to its strong cultural sector and capacity to
host international events.
—
QUOTE:
« I’m working on African identity.
Culturally, we have many points
in common. There are trends
linking all North African countries,
whether they be in dance, music…
there’s a history that links us,
sometimes a painful one, because
all the trade routes were between
North and South. There’s a large
community of black Africans
from South of the Sahara that has
become North African. We need to
recognize this entity. […]
I think Africa has a great future.
It’s a future we have to build
ourselves; no one outside should
decide what we should be. »
Bahri Ben Yahmed
Dancer and choreographer,
Danseurs Citoyens & Lang’art,
Tunis*
Quote translated from French
by the author.
Other translated quotes will be marked
(*) throughout the document.
—