Afro Renaissance: A Celebration of African Identity, Memory and Future in Luanda

Luanda Hosts Afro Renaissance: An Artistic Manifesto of African Identity

Angola’s vibrant creative scene took centre stage with the recent exhibition Afro Renaissance, co-produced by Afrikanizm Art and Face Studio. Hosted in Luanda, this landmark showcase united contemporary African artists to interrogate, reimagine, and reclaim African narratives through a bold and diverse visual experience.

Reclaiming the Renaissance: Curated by Alexandra Martins

Led by curator Alexandra Martins of Afrikanizm Art, the exhibition redefined the concept of renaissance through an African lens — not as revival, but reassertion. This Afrocentric curatorial framework rooted itself in ancestry, storytelling, and futurism, inviting artists and viewers alike to reflect on identity through memory and imagination.

“Afro Renaissance is not about revisiting the past nostalgically. It is about rewriting the present and affirming the multiplicity of African voices, bodies, and stories that have too often been silenced or misrepresented.” – Alexandra Martins

Multidisciplinary Art as Cultural Testimony

The exhibition presented a wide spectrum of media: painting, photography, installation, textile art, and digital work. Common threads included memory, tradition, portraiture, colonial rupture, and Afrofuturist speculation. Each piece interrogated what it means to inhabit African identity today — both on the continent and across the diaspora.

Creating Space for Emerging Artists

True to Afrikanizm Art’s mission, Afro Renaissance elevated emerging talent, many of whom were exhibiting in an institutional context for the first time. This inclusive approach reflects a broader vision to correct art historical omissions and amplify underrepresented voices globally.

Institutional Support and Cultural Partnerships

The exhibition was realised thanks to the support of cultural and corporate sponsors such as Fidelidade, DHL, Inverroche, Unitel, BAT, Trinca Bolotas, and Forbes Africa Lusofona. Their commitment underscores the vital role of private-public collaboration in the advancement of Africa’s creative industries.

Education and Access as Core Values

Workshops, artist talks, and school visits formed an integral part of the programme, extending engagement beyond viewing into dialogue, mentorship, and learning. Afrikanizm Art and Face Studio reaffirm their shared dedication to accessible cultural education in Angola and across Lusophone Africa.

A Movement, Not Just a Moment

Afro Renaissance was more than an exhibition. It was a call to action — a manifesto of African creativity, resistance, and speculative futures. In merging past and present with cultural urgency, it created space for reimagining African futures on African terms.

Looking Forward

As Afrikanizm Art expands its impact across Angola, Portugal and beyond, Afro Renaissance stands as a key milestone in a broader movement to redefine how African art is produced, contextualised, and remembered.