Contemporary Art Revisits Lusophone Africa's Revolutionary Histories

An essay by Ana Balona de Oliveira published on February 1, 2024, examines how contemporary artistic practices engage with histories of anti-colonial struggle, socialist revolution, and decolonization across Mozambique, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, and Portugal. The analysis extends to apartheid South Africa and the global Cold War context. Three artists serve as case studies: Ângela Ferreira (born 1958, Mozambique), Filipa César (born 1975, Portugal), and Kiluanji Kia Henda (born 1979, Angola). Their works employ diverse media including installation, video, photography, and performance for the camera. The essay investigates the archival and historiographical potential of such art in remembering revolutionary and decolonial pasts, with particular attention to cultural production and film. It maps histories and geographies of anti-colonial and anti-apartheid solidarity while acknowledging persistent forms of imperialism. Published in ARTMargins Volume 13, Issue 1 (pages 82-105), the piece questions the insights offered by these artistic engagements with archives and the ethical-political reach of their aesthetics. The article is available via subscription through MIT Press.