Louvre Abu Dhabi Celebrates African Majesty with Kings and Queens of Africa
In a landmark cultural moment, Louvre Abu Dhabi unveils its first major exhibition of the year, Kings and Queens of Africa: Forms and Figures of Power — the UAE and region’s first exhibition dedicated exclusively to African art. Running until 25 May 2025, the exhibition is a powerful tribute to Africa’s artistic heritage, curated in collaboration with Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac and France Muséums, and supported by HONOR and Valrhona.
Bringing together over 350 artworks spanning from the 11th to the 21st centuries, the exhibition explores the deep relationship between art, power, and identity across the African continent. Visitors journey through royal portraits, sculptural masterpieces, ceremonial regalia, and textiles from West, Central, Southern, and East Africa — a vibrant testament to Africa’s creative resilience and evolving narratives.
Curated by Hélène Joubert, El Hadji Malick Ndiaye, and Cindy Olohou, the exhibition weaves ancient traditions with contemporary reflections. The narrative explores divine rulership, heroic leadership, and the artistic portrayal of power through kingdoms like Ife, Benin, Kongo, and Zulu. Contemporary African voices resonate powerfully, culminating in an African Pop Art section featuring comics and video games, underscoring the living dynamism of African culture.
Highlights include masterpieces such as the Crowned Head of Queen Oluwo (Ife, Nigeria), Royal Shoes(Baule, Côte d’Ivoire), and Nkisi Nkondi figures (Kongo, Congo), alongside striking contemporary works by Abdoulaye Konaté and Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga. The exhibition also features a new Louvre Abu Dhabi acquisition — Fluctuating Throne by Gonçalo Mabunda — a poignant sculpture crafted from decommissioned Mozambican weapons, symbolizing resilience and transformation.
Complementing the exhibition, Louvre Abu Dhabi will host a robust cultural programme, including the symposium African Museums Today and Tomorrow, a Coffee Festival celebrating African-Arabian ties, and an electrifying Masquerave headlined by DJ Black Coffee. Outdoor installations such as Zak Ové’s monumental Black Starliner totem and dynamic night projections by Dr. Esther Mahlangu transform Louvre Abu Dhabi Park into a celebration of African diaspora and artistry.
As H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Louvre Abu Dhabi, aptly states:
“Kings and Queens of Africa reveals how the cultural legacies of Africa’s rulers continue to inspire contemporary art and culture, reflecting our mission to share universal stories through art.”
Kings and Queens of Africa invites visitors to immerse themselves in Africa’s profound artistic legacy — a narrative of beauty, strength, and identity transcending time and geography.
