To celebrate the World Africa Day 2021, Tuesday 25 May, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has created an innovative digital event aimed at disseminating to the general public some of the main African artistic works kept both in international museums and in Italy. The anniversary aims to bring attention to the serious problems that still afflict the African continent, such as poverty, inequality and social exclusion aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic, stimulating the growth of communities but, at the same time, preserving the exceptional variety of African ecosystems.
A moment of reflection to celebrate an important day in the history of the African continent. Era on May 25, 1963 when the leaders of 30 of the 32 independent states of the continent signed the charter in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, thus giving birth to theOrganization of African Unity (since 2002 African Union). This year, the Day is part of a 2021 calendar of considerable importance for Italy's relations with the Continent, which will culminate with the ministerial event "Meetings with Africa" between 7 and 8 October.
The exhibition intends to give a voice to African and Italian artists, direct protagonists of the extraordinary cultural universe of the Continent, bringing the public closer to their vision of art and life, going beyond the academic and museum institutional gaze. Users will thus be able to admire their works, their works, which better than any other image will be able to tell the identity strength of a rich, original but above all independent production.
I 13 artists who participated in this celebratory project come from very different areas of the continent, among them: the Senegalese Fatou Kande Senghor, Soly Cissé and Seni Camara, the Ethiopian Dawit Abebe, the Zimbabwean Troy Makaza, the Malagasy Malala Andrialavidrazana, the Ghanaian El Anatsui , the Nigerians Ifeoma U. Anyaeji and Peju Alatise, the Moroccan Ghizlane Sahli, the Mozambican Gonçalo Mabunda, the Cameroonian Barthélémy Toguo, the Ivorian Mathilde Moreau. In addition, the video of their testimonials will be accompanied by the digital exhibition of some of their most iconic works, for a total of almost 40 pieces of art.
The artists involved in this celebratory project that unites Italy and Africa represent different expressive methods, but connected to the themes that will be treated in the meetings G20 of this year, of which Italy holds the presidency: environmental sustainability, peaceful resolution of conflicts, migrations, respect for women, harmony and balance of living in community.
The event is sponsored by the International Center for the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (ICCROM), with the collaboration of CMS Culture company – an agency specialized in the production of exhibitions and displays – and will be led by Doctor Micol Forti, Director of the Contemporary Art Collection of the Vatican Museums.
In particular, the event will last around 50 minutes and will open with a greeting and best wishes speech from the Minister Luigi Di Maio, followed by the speech of the Ambassador in Rome of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Fidèle Sambassi Khakessa, the country which holds the Presidency of the African Union for the current year. Instead, the Deputy Minister Sereni and the representatives of international organizations specialized in the conservation of archaeological assets – the Director General of ICCROM, Webber Ndoro, and the President of ICOMOS (International Council of Monuments and Sites), Maurizio di Stefano – will close the meeting with their speeches .
This year we also intend to remember the contribution made in their service in Africa byAmbassador Luca Attanasioby the Carabiniere Victor Iacovacci and their driver Mustapha Milambo, victims of a tragic attack in the Democratic Republic of Congo on 22 February.
