Serubiri Moses Examines Three Exhibitions by African Women Curators
In the latest issue of Afterall Journal, Serubiri Moses looks into three exhibitions put together by African women from 1995 to 2009, highlighting the often ignored contributions of female artists from Africa. The first, 'Women Artists on the Move,' took place in 1995 in Kampala, organized by Lilian Mary Nabulime at Makerere University Art Gallery, showcasing artists like Sylvia Katende and Rose Namubiru Kirumira. Next, 'Second to None' was curated by Gabi Ngcobo and Virginia MacKenny in 2006 in Cape Town to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Women’s March. Finally, in 2009, 'Like A Virgin...' was organized by Bisi Silva in Lagos, focusing on themes of sexuality through the works of Zanele Muholi and Lucy Azubuike. Moses argues that these exhibitions play a crucial role in challenging societal issues and calls for a fresh perspective on African feminist art history, dedicating the essay to the late Bisi Silva.
Key facts
- Essay published in Afterall Journal 47 on July 21, 2019.
- Written by Serubiri Moses.
- Examines three exhibitions: 'Women Artists on the Move' (1995), 'Second to None' (2006), 'Like A Virgin…' (2009).
- 'Women Artists on the Move' was organized by Lilian Mary Nabulime at Makerere University Art Gallery, Kampala.
- 'Second to None' was curated by Gabi Ngcobo and Virginia MacKenny at South African National Gallery, Cape Town.
- 'Like A Virgin…' was curated by Bisi Silva at Center for Contemporary Art (CCA), Lagos.
- Artists in 'Women Artists on the Move' included Nabulime, Sylvia Katende, Rose Namubiru Kirumira, Margaret Nagawa, Maria Naita.
- 'Like A Virgin…' featured Zanele Muholi and Lucy Azubuike.
- The essay is dedicated to Bisi Silva (1962–2019).
Entities
Artists
- Serubiri Moses
- Lilian Mary Nabulime
- Sylvia Katende
- Rose Namubiru Kirumira
- Margaret Nagawa
- Maria Naita
- Gabi Ngcobo
- Virginia MacKenny
- Bisi Silva
- Zanele Muholi
- Lucy Azubuike
- Rosemary Karuga
- Theresa Musoke
- Lydia Mugambi
- Venny Nakazibwe
- Sarah Nakisanze
- Josephine Mukasa
- Francis Musangogwantamu
- Henry Moore
- Margaret Trowell
- Keturah Kamugasa
- Helen Mmakgabo Sebidi
- Noria Mabasa
- Tracey Rose
- Berni Searle
- Keorapetse Mosimane
- John Koenakeefe Mohl
- Nontobeko Ntombela
- Gladys Mgudlandlu
- Valerie Desmore
- Christine Eyene
- Olu Oguibe
- Okwui Enwezor
- Afi Ekong
- Albertina Sisulu
- Winifred Madikizela Mandela
- Adelaide Tambo
- Sharlene Khan
- Vincent O. Nmehielle
- Kivubiro Tabawebbula
- Emma Wolukau-Wanambwa
- Annett Busch
- Marie-Hélène Gutberlet
- Magda Lipska
- Clémentine Deliss
Institutions
- Afterall Journal
- Makerere University Art Gallery
- Makerere University
- South African National Gallery
- Center for Contemporary Art (CCA), Lagos
- African National Congress Women's League
- African National Congress
- United Nations
- University of Nairobi
- Museum Villa Stuck
- Whitechapel Art Gallery
- Mbari Club
- Margaret Trowell School of Fine Arts
- Museum of African Art, Washington DC
- Commonwealth Institute
- New Museum, New York
- National Museum of Kenya
- Gallery of Contemporary East African Art, National Museum of Kenya
- Iwalewahaus, Universität Bayreut
- Museum of Modern Art, Warsaw
- The Showroom, London
- The Otolith Collective, London
- Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town
- University of Witwatersrand
- Paa Ya Paa
- Mbari Mbayo Club
Locations
- Kampala
- Uganda
- Cape Town
- South Africa
- Lagos
- Nigeria
- Bamako
- Dakar
- Johannesburg
- East Africa
- Kenya
- Nairobi
- Beijing
- China
- Manitoba
- Canada
- Munich
- Germany
- Berlin
- Chicago
- New York
- London
- Ibadan
- Tanganyika
- Washington DC
- Paris
- Warsaw
- Bayreut
Sources
- Afterall —