AfricaAfrica Exhibition at Palazzo Litta Challenges Stereotypes Through Design and Photography

The exhibition 'AfricaAfrica, exploring the Now of African design and photography' at Palazzo Litta Cultura in Milan, organized by MoscaPartners and MIA Photo Fair, presents recent works (2015–2017) by fourteen designers and seven photographers from six African countries, including Ivory Coast and South Africa. Curated by Maria Pia Bernardoni (international projects for Lagos Photo Fair) for photography and Elisa Astori (former Driade manager) for design, the show aims to counter stereotypes of Africa as needy or exotic, highlighting a dynamic, innovative continent connected globally. Design pieces vary in style but share creative reuse of materials, such as Jean Servais Somian's sofa made from a pirogue wreck, Hamed Ouattara's cabinets from oil barrels, and Gonçalo Mabunda's sculptures from weapons of Mozambique's civil war. Social responsibility is central: designers like Stephen Burks (who works with artisan communities across Africa) and Botswana brand Mabeo (using sustainable panga panga wood) engage in community development. Photographers include Maurice Mbikayi, whose works critique e-waste risks in Africa. The exhibition runs at Palazzo Litta, Milan.