The Palais de Lomé arts centre in Lomé, Togo, currently hosts a landmark exhibition titled Design in West Africa: Unity in Multiplicity. Curated by Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte, founder of the Nomad design fair and Carwan Gallery, this show brings together 22 artists and designers from across West Africa to present a sweeping panorama of contemporary creativity rooted in rich cultural traditions. Running until March 15, 2026, the exhibition is a vibrant tribute to the diversity of design practices within the region and an exploration of how ancestral heritage and modern visions can intersect and thrive together.
The exhibition’s title encapsulates its central premise — the coexistence of diverse approaches and cultural expressions unified through shared histories and values. The curatorial duo, Bellavance-Lecompte and Palais de Lomé’s director Sonia Lawson, emphasize that design in this context is not a monolithic style but a language of resistance, memory, and forward-thinking vision. This is demonstrated in the range of objects and installations on display, which include sculptural furniture, ceramics, textiles, and conceptual pieces that challenge dominant narratives and celebrate local ingenuity.
One of the exhibition’s highlights is the thoughtful dialogue between tradition and innovation. For instance, Togolese artist Kossi Assou presents a series of low stools inspired by communal dining customs in the Sahel region. These stools are more than functional objects; they evoke social practices that foster connection and collective identity. Similarly, Steven Kwami Dodji Agbétoglo’s monumental table features eight uniquely designed legs, each symbolizing a different community of former slaves. This table stands as a powerful reminder of shared histories and the enduring legacies of displacement and resilience across West Africa.
The geographical breadth of participating artists is remarkable, featuring creators from Mali, Togo, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, and the Ivory Coast. This wide representation affirms the exhibition’s mission to highlight West Africa’s pluralistic design culture. Noteworthy contributors include Issa Diabaté, an Ivorian architect and former Dezeen Awards judge, and Rym Beydoun, founder of the textile label Super Yaya. Their works provide insight into the complex interplay between craft, identity, and contemporary aesthetics.
Materials and methods vary widely across the exhibition, demonstrating a sophisticated embrace of both traditional techniques and contemporary experimentation. Ghanaian sculptor Kobina Adusah draws on Akan mythology in his clay works, connecting the earthiness of his medium to spiritual and cultural narratives. In contrast, Burkina Faso’s Hamed Ouattara employs upcycled materials to address socio-political themes, offering a commentary on sustainability and transformation in a rapidly changing environment.
Nigerian artist Nifemi Marcus-Bello pushes boundaries through his innovative use of cast aluminium, inspired by the vernacular fabrication of second-hand car parts in Lagos. His sculptural furniture pieces, such as the “TM Moon [Screen],” transform discarded industrial materials into refined design objects that challenge global manufacturing hierarchies while elevating African creativity. This blend of resourcefulness and high craftsmanship exemplifies the exhibition’s focus on design as a tool of cultural storytelling and ecological awareness.
Assemblage art also features prominently in the exhibition’s narrative. Tété Azonkpo, a Togolese artist who describes himself as an “art surgeon,” constructs evocative chairs from repurposed enamelled metal basins. His work addresses social fractures and inequality, using the act of repair as a metaphor for resilience and unity. This theme resonates throughout the show, emphasizing that creativity often arises from processes of healing and adaptation.
The exhibition does not shy away from historical complexity. Steve Kwami Gbeteglo’s towering burnt wood sculpture, “Make the Move,” serves as a poignant historical commentary. The table’s eight legs represent distinct enslaved communities united through their shared experience of displacement. This piece embodies the exhibition’s commitment to bridging past and present, making visible stories that are often marginalized or fragmented.
Textile traditions are woven throughout the exhibition, both literally and figuratively. Malian artist Aboubakar Fofana revives ancient indigo dyeing techniques while also engaging with contemporary ecological concerns through his permaculture work in Siby, Mali. Meanwhile, Serge Attukwei Clottey from Ghana reclaims yellow plastic jerrycans — potent symbols of water scarcity and migration — transforming them into vibrant tapestries that speak to environmental activism and community strength.
The exhibition’s rich cultural tapestry is further enhanced by works from Senegalese woodworker Balla Niang and Togo’s Amivi Homawoo, Afi Elikplim Akogonya, Estelle Yomeda, Tete Azonkpo, Affiavi, and Gona. Ghanaian artists Michael Tetteh, Paa Joe, and Serge Clottey also contribute, highlighting the region’s multifaceted design heritage. Some of these artists have previously appeared in related exhibitions, such as the inaugural Design Week South Africa in 2024, underscoring a growing pan-African conversation around design innovation.
Design in West Africa: Unity in Multiplicity takes place within the evocative setting of the Palais de Lomé, a historic building originally constructed by German colonial settlers in the early 20th century. Meticulously restored in 2019, the palace now functions as a cultural hub dedicated to contemporary art, heritage, and biodiversity. The transformation of this site into a vibrant platform for artistic exchange mirrors the exhibition’s themes of renewal and cross-cultural dialogue.
As this exhibition continues through March 15, 2026, it marks a significant milestone in the recognition and celebration of West African design. It challenges reductive narratives and showcases a complex, evolving landscape where artists and designers draw deeply from their roots while engaging boldly with global conversations. Through its expansive scope and nuanced curation, Design in West Africa invites viewers to reconsider what design means in the region — as a practice of unity through multiplicity, of heritage enlivened by innovation, and of creativity boundless in its forms and meanings.
