Guide
African art fairs and biennales
The most important regular events for contemporary African art are the Dakar Biennale (Dak'Art) and the Rencontres de Bamako photography biennale, and the commercial fairs 1-54 (London, New York and Marrakech), the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, FNB Art Joburg and ART X Lagos. Biennales are where curators set the agenda; fairs are where most collectors buy.
Updated 3 min read
Biennales and fairs: the difference
A biennale is a large curated exhibition, usually every two years, organised by a city or foundation. Works are shown, not sold, and the choices of the curators shape reputations. A fair is a commercial event where galleries rent booths and sell. Both matter, in different ways.
Dates move from year to year, and editions are sometimes postponed. Always check the official website before travelling.
Biennales
| Event | City | Since | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dak'Art — Biennale of Contemporary African Art | Dakar, Senegal | 1990 (visual art from 1992; dedicated to contemporary African art from 1996) | The oldest and best-known biennale devoted to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora |
| Rencontres de Bamako — African Biennale of Photography | Bamako, Mali | 1994 | The leading platform for photography and video from Africa; associated with the rise of Malick Sidibé and Seydou Keïta |
| Lagos Biennial | Lagos, Nigeria | 2017 | An independent biennial using the city's spaces |
| Cairo Biennale | Cairo, Egypt | 1984 | A long-running international biennale |
Dak'Art grew out of Senegal's long investment in the arts, described in our article on the École de Dakar. In Dakar its exhibitions use venues such as the Museum of Black Civilisations and the Théodore Monod Museum; in Bamako the National Museum of Mali is a regular venue of the Rencontres.
Art fairs
| Fair | Where | Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair | London, New York, Marrakech | 2013 (London) | Founded by Touria El Glaoui, daughter of the painter Hassan El Glaoui; the name refers to the 54 countries of Africa. London edition in October during Frieze week, New York in May, Marrakech in February |
| Investec Cape Town Art Fair | Cape Town, South Africa | 2013 | Now one of the largest art fairs on the continent; usually held in February |
| FNB Art Joburg | Johannesburg, South Africa | 2008 | The longest-running fair of its kind in Africa; usually in September |
| ART X Lagos | Lagos, Nigeria | 2016 | Founded by Tokini Peterside-Schwebig; the leading fair in West Africa, usually in November |
| AKAA (Also Known As Africa) | Paris, France | 2016 | A fair of contemporary art and design focused on Africa |
How to make the most of a visit
- Fairs: go on a preview or opening day if you can; the best works sell first. Ask galleries for price lists — they will share them — and for the artist's exhibition history.
- Biennales: plan two or three days. The main exhibition is only part of it: Dak'Art and the Rencontres de Bamako are surrounded by independent "off" exhibitions across the city.
- Talk to people: artists, curators and gallerists attend all of these events and are usually happy to talk.
Related
Before you buy, read how to buy African art. Between events, the permanent collections listed in where to see African art are the best way to see the history behind what is on sale, and our guide to contemporary African art sets out the bigger picture. At the 2017 Venice Biennale the Diaspora Pavilion showed the tintypes of Khadija Saye, the youngest artist taking part.
