Africa Basel Conversations

In this episode of Africa Basel Conversations, designer, curator and educator Yvon Langué brings together artist and designer Toluwalase Rufai and Sandia Nassila of Salù Iwadi Studio to explore the fluid boundaries between art, design, and architecture in African contexts.Across many African worlds, objects, spaces, and materials have long carried aesthetic, social, spiritual, and functional meanings simultaneously. The conversation considers how contemporary practitioners draw on these interconnected traditions while moving between studios, galleries, fairs, collections, and other contexts of cultural production.Rather than asking how African design and architecture fit into established categories, the discussion examines how they can challenge existing hierarchies of value, authorship, function, and artistic agency. Together, the speakers reflect on how these practices generate new forms of cultural meaning and what they might reveal about the future of collections and institutions.Guests:Toluwalase Rufai – Architect, designer and artist, and co-founder of Salù Iwadi Studio, whose practice explores material culture, memory, and cultural heritage through contemporary designSandia Nassila – Creative strategist and curator, and co-founder of Salù Iwadi Studio, working across design, cultural storytelling, and the exploration of African diasporic heritageModerated by:Yvon Langué – Designer, curator, and educator working across art, design, and photography

In this episode of Africa Basel Conversations, artists and cultural practitioners explore how artist-led organisations are creating new spaces for exhibition, exchange, and experimentation beyond traditional institutional and commercial structures. Moderated by Michelle Aliénor, the conversation brings together perspectives from BNAP Foundation, ArtHarare, and Hybrid Project Space.The panel considers how these initiatives respond to local realities while engaging with wider international discourses in contemporary art. Together, the panellists reflect on autonomy, infrastructure, collaboration, residencies, public engagement, and community-building—and on the possibilities that emerge when artists and cultural practitioners take an active role in shaping the spaces and structures in which art is produced and presented.At the heart of the conversation is a question of what exhibition-making can become when it moves beyond the white cube: how can artist-led platforms develop new formats, build communities, and create more inclusive and accessible spaces for contemporary art?Guests:Palesa Mofokeng – BNAP Foundation, supporting artistic development and cultural production through artist-led initiativesRichard Mudariki – Artist and founder of ArtHarare, creating platforms for contemporary art, cultural exchange, and artistic collaborationGourav Neogi – Member of Hybrid Project Space, a Basel-based collective working across museum studies, curation, media production, art, architecture, and graphic design to explore diversity, accessibility, and participation in art and cultural spacesModerated by:Michelle Aliénor – Curator and cultural practitioner working across contemporary African art and international artistic networksTechnical note: Due to technical issues during the recording, some short sections of the conversation could not be recovered and have been edited out. These cuts are indicated by brief white fades.

In this episode of Africa Basel Conversations, artist Moffat Takadiwa and curator Sandra Obiago explore how art can reshape our understanding of ecology, consumption, labour, and global trade. Takadiwa’s practice transforms discarded materials into intricate works that challenge conventional notions of value while reflecting on the social and economic realities of Zimbabwe.The conversation considers the relationships between people, materials, and systems of production, asking how artistic practice can make visible the environmental and social consequences of consumption. It also explores Takadiwa’s role as the founder of Mbare Art Space, an artist-led platform supporting emerging artists and fostering new forms of cultural exchange.Guests:Moffat Takadiwa – Zimbabwean artist whose sculptural practice transforms discarded materials into reflections on consumption, value, labour, and ecological changeModerated by:Sandra Obiago – Curator and cultural practitioner working across contemporary African art and cultural exchange

In this episode of Africa Basel Conversations, editors, writers, and cultural practitioners come together to explore publishing as a vital site of knowledge production within the contemporary African art ecosystem. Moderated by Lula Ngalula of Mayi Arts, the conversation brings together perspectives from Contemporary And, The Africans Column, and Dak’Art News.Going beyond documentation, the panel considers how publishing shapes the interpretation, historicisation, and circulation of artistic practices across local and global contexts. Together, the panellists reflect on authorship, visibility, archives, and cultural discourse—and on the networks and power structures that influence whose voices are heard.At the heart of the conversation is a fundamental question: who gets to write the present, and how can publishing contribute to shaping more diverse and self-determined narratives of contemporary African art?Guests:Caleb Oheneba-Takyi – Editor and writer at The Africans Column, engaging with contemporary African art and cultural discourseNaima Hassan – Representative of Contemporary And, a leading platform for contemporary African art and its global networksRémy Mallet – Writer and cultural practitioner at Dak’Art News, covering contemporary African art and the wider cultural landscapeModerated by:Lula Ngalula – Curator and founder of Mayi Arts

Rooted in his curatorial vision Globalisto, South African artist, musician, and theorist Ntshepe Tsekere Bopape (Mo Laudi) hosts this compelling conversation with participating artists of Africa Basel and Ibrahim Mohama. Globalisto offers both a poetic and political response to Western-centred frameworks—championing decolonial thinking, multiplicity of voices, and global dialogue through artistic practice.In this episode of Africa Basel Conversations, Mo Laudi explores themes of belonging, migration, and cultural hybridity in conversation with artists whose work navigates the intersections of global entanglement and African realities. Together, they reflect on the role of art in making visible what is often unseen—be it memory, history, or identity—and on how creativity becomes a space for reclaiming narratives and forging new solidarities.Guests:Alexis Peskine – Visual artist known for powerful portraits exploring diaspora and identityHelen Nzete – Multidisciplinary artist engaging with memory and the bodyIbrahim Mahama – Ghanaian artist whose large-scale installations address labour, trade, and post-colonial historiesModerated by:Ntshepe Tsekere Bopape (Mo Laudi) – Artist, musician, curator, and founder of the Globalisto platform

A new generation of creatives of African descent is reshaping Switzerland’s cultural landscape—challenging conventions through bold aesthetics, critical inquiry, and fresh perspectives rooted in diasporic experience.In this dynamic episode of Africa Basel Conversations, moderator Keabetswe Boccomino of Afrinova brings together voices from across the African diaspora in Switzerland and Europe. Working across design, sound, research, and visual culture, the panellists explore how diasporic artists reclaim space, resist dominant narratives, and establish new paradigms of artistic excellence.From reimagining heritage to confronting socio-political structures, this conversation delves into the power of creativity as cultural resistance and affirmation. These practitioners are not only shaping their immediate communities—they are emerging as influential contributors to the global art discourse.Guests:Tracy September – Artist and cultural practitionerJoshua Amissah – Multidisciplinary designer and researcherSinzo Aanza – Writer, artist, and political commentatorModerated by:Keabetswe Boccomino – Curator, cultural producer, and founder of Afrinova

As Africa’s cultural renaissance gains strength, the question of legacy becomes ever more pressing. How can families, private collectors, and institutions ensure that African art collections are not only preserved, but remain a source of inspiration, learning, and empowerment for generations to come?In this thought-provoking episode of Africa Basel Conversations, our distinguished panel explores the role of intergenerational responsibility in safeguarding African cultural heritage. From the continent to the diaspora, experts and insiders share visionary strategies for sustainable collection management—offering insights into models of stewardship, community engagement, and the evolving role of collectors as cultural custodians.Guests:Paul Kalu – Art collector and economistCarey Godwin – Interior designer, print collector, and multidisciplinary artist working in ceramics and weavingOliver Enwonwu – Petrochemical engineer, art historian, painter, founder of Omenka Gallery, and President of the Society of Nigerian ArtistsModerated by:Sandra Mbanefo-Obiago – Curator, founder and director of SMO Contemporary Art, and advisor on corporate art collections