Yinka Shonibare’s first major solo exhibition in Africa — a long-awaited, ambitious showcase of the British-Nigerian artist’s work, hosted by Fondation H, Madagascar’s leading contemporary art foundation.
The result is nothing short of transformative.
A Homecoming with Global Reach
Though Shonibare has exhibited widely across the world, including previous shows in South Africa, this exhibition marks a meaningful first: a major solo show on the African continent that truly reflects the pan-African and diasporic dimensions of his work. “Being in Madagascar for this feels symbolic,” Shonibare told me — and it shows. The 2,200-square metre Fondation H building has been fully reimagined with his installations, immersing visitors in his world of hybrid materials, colonial critique, and cultural dialogue.
The African Library: Memory, Resistance, Celebration
At the heart of the exhibition is one of Shonibare’s most monumental works to date: The African Library. This immersive installation features over 6,000 books wrapped in African wax print fabrics, each embossed with the name of a figure who has shaped the African postcolonial landscape — from political leaders like Kwame Nkrumah and Nelson Mandela, to pop-cultural icons such as Patrick Vieira and Margaret Singana.
The piece does more than pay tribute; it reclaims history, asserting that Africa’s intellectual, creative, and revolutionary legacy is vast, vibrant, and still being written.