Nebbam Gallery Opens in Bologna Dedicated to Contemporary African Art

On March 10, 2022, Nebbam gallery opened in Bologna, founded by Franco-Senegalese sisters Clarisse and Laurence Djionne. The gallery, located at via de' Castagnoli, continues their Africa-Design jewelry store established in 1998. The name 'nebbam' refers to the cream extracted from milk by Peul herders in western Niger, symbolizing the best part of their product. The gallery aims to promote the finest contemporary African art and cultural heritage. It comprises two interconnected spaces: one for design and traditional ritual objects, featuring designers like Papa Mamadou N'Doye (wood engraving), Balla Niang (recycled materials), and Hamed Ouattara (recycled metals). Ritual artifacts include Bamileke stools from western Cameroon, Fang shields from Cameroon, Ndimo Makonde maternity figures from Mozambique and Tanzania, Maka animal masks from Burkina Faso, and textiles from the Malian social enterprise NDOMO. The second space is dedicated to contemporary African artists, opening with a solo exhibition of Senegalese painter Camara Gueye (born 1968, Bignona), trained at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Dakar, in his first Italian show. Gueye's works depict themes of redemption and self-determination, featuring proud human figures, domestic animals, and traditional objects. The exhibited series focuses on indigo, representing balanced vitality, with subjects ranging from Western exploitation to Senegalese traditions and daily life.