The 15th Dakar Biennale of Contemporary African Art began on November 7, 2024, attracting a large crowd with around 400,000 visitors expected until its conclusion on December 7.
The highlight of the opening ceremony was the award of the Léopold Sédar Senghor Grand Prize to Agnès Brézéphin, an artist from Martinique, recognized for her design of a typographic font dedicated to the Creole alphabet, named “Coolie”. This prestigious event offers a wide range of cultural events, from painting to sculpture, including interactive installations and varied performances.
In his opening speech, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye expressed his joy and commitment to culture, affirming that Dakar will become a nerve center of art for a month. He underlined the importance of the biennial for Senegalese culture and its international influence, by bringing together artists and art lovers from around the world in the capital.
Directed by Salimata Diop, this 2024 edition explores themes such as femininity, violence, and consumption under the theme “The Wake – L’éveil, le sillage, xàll wi.” Welcoming 58 artists from Africa and its diaspora, the event offers an immersive journey enriched with sound and musical installations. After being postponed due to budgetary concerns, the biennial retains its undeniable appeal on the African art scene, consolidating its reputation as an unmissable event.
Senegal
