In April, Alcerkar Avenue in Dubai, the art district of the Art District, with over 70 contemporary art galleries, opened its first dedicated African space.
The new Africa-focused space at the EFIE Gallery debuted at an exhibition featuring Afro-Cuban artist MarÃa Magdalena Campos-Pons and her work exploring the themes of land and belonging.
The EFIE team has been working in temporary spaces in Dubai since 2021, but the new 4,400 square feet of space will allow more work to be displayed.
Once in, its high ceiling sharply reassures a sugar cane-inspired sculpture that carries us to a Cuban sugar plantation where thousands of African workers, including the distant relatives of Maria Magdalena Campos Ponds, have been enslaved.
A small room on the second floor features paintings like the Master El Anatui of Ghana, Aidan Rño in Ethiopia, and the famous aluminum bottle caps with colorful murals by Abdou Reikonate in Mali.
“We thought we should have a very diverse roster, so we definitely hate it. We say that this is ridiculous, and then we can come in the next month and say that this is the best exhibition ever,” says Kwame Minta, one of the founders. “At that moment, you realize that African art is all that, so you can't say whether you hate or love African art.”
His brother, Kobe and his mother, Valentina, have decided to travel without a specific artistic background, but after living outside of Ghana for many years, the homeland of Britain and Arab Emirates, he is a passion for elevating the image of the continent.
“We didn't want to be artists. We knew who we were and wanted to portray that,” Kwame tells African business.
“We saw the UK. We realized that when it comes to African art, it is considered a second layer. You can see the arts, crafts and images of wildlife.”
The West art scene reduced Africa to a concrete theme, but the Middle East, particularly the Gulf Coast, was a blank canvas, says Kwame. The Minta family decided to set up a gallery in Dubai.
“In the West, everything was focused on the structure of the story, and here it seemed to have been given a blank canvas to build the story. We would define African art.”
The venture began with a visual art exhibition at the Pavilion at Burj Plaza, designed by Ghanaian architect Asaf Ajay, and attended the All African Festival, an annual event celebrating African culture in the United States of America.
One of the artists on which the artwork was exhibited was Ghanaian Yoo-Ouso, known for his sculpture works that incorporate coins to explore the changing and temporal nature of values ​​across a variety of economic and cultural contexts.
“Afee's presence in the United Arab Emirates not only provided visibility into my work, but more importantly, deepened and expanded the context I received,” Yeo tells the African business that developed Dubai culture to develop its presence in the Arab exhibits after appearing in Efee's pavilion and then took on a settlement with the gallery in collaboration with Dubai culture.
“Positioning my practice within a broader framework has paved a new pathway to engaging in global conversations, particularly around the concept of values ​​that remain central to my research and creative process.”
Cross-cultural exchange
The United Arab Emirates lives and works in a variety of cities with over 200 nationalities. In Dubai, foreigners make up about 92% of the population.
Vision and outreach were also important factors that the Minta family considered when selecting EFIE locations. In addition to offering exhibitions, the gallery hosts auctions and sales to support one of the artists (one of the works sold at the Louvre in Paris) and artistic residencies aimed at exploring the connections between the Middle East and Africa.
“We wanted to make sure there's a cross-cultural exchange between the two regions, not only are we here, but we're working with the people here,” says Kwame. “When artists come, they first interact with local artists, local farmers, local institutions, understand where they are, and then they build on this exchange.”
They then plan to take Middle Eastern artists to Africa to open bilateral programs to learn and collaborate.
When gallery works are constantly changing to show new exhibitions and artists, there are things that never move. This cozy listening room presents a collection of over 2,000 original vinyl and shellac music records from the 1940s to today. Nigerian Ferra Kuti, Algerian Walda and Jamaican African Brothers Band are some of the names on display.
“In most galleries around the world, you feel like you can't speak as if you're not allowed to be there. As Africans, we're all about the community, and about invitations.
So far, Dubai art curators and enthusiasts have embraced Effie's new opening. MarÃa Magdalena Campos-Pons “I Am Soil, My Tears Are Water and Efie are planning a film and photo exhibition curated by Nigerian Ose Ekore, featuring works by artists Samuel Fosso, Aïda Muluneh, Kelani Avass, Abeer Sultan and Sumaya Fallatah. Works on display in June and July provide visual stories that encourage reflection on healing, growth and understanding over time.
The Saudi Sultan and Farata will become some of the first Middle Eastern artists to be exhibited at Effie. Their ancestors left Africa before they arrived on the Arabian Peninsula. It is estimated that around 10% of Saudi Arabia's population can trace its origins from its modern country homes in Nigeria, Chad, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Mali and Senegal.
“When it comes to the representation of African and African diaspora, art can challenge stereotypes, reclaim history and affirm an identity that has long been misrepresented or erased. Artists from visual language, storytelling, symbolism, African and African diaspora can address historical systems and legality in both historical systems and wisdom.
Kwame argues that it is not only important to see more diversity and vision about African art, but that Africans themselves must begin to own creative spaces such as galleries and academies.
“From being African, exhibiting African work: unless you come from the continent, there are some references (them).
