On April 10, 2025, British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare CBE RA unveiled his first major solo exhibition on the African continent, titled Safiotra [Hybridities/Hybridités], at Fondation H in Antananarivo, Madagascar. This vibrant and thought-provoking showcase marks a significant milestone in Shonibare’s career, bringing his signature exploration of cultural identity, colonialism, and globalization to African soil for the first time in such an expansive form.
The exhibition, running through June 2025, features a dynamic selection of Shonibare’s work spanning two decades, including iconic sculptures, paintings, and installations that challenge historical narratives and celebrate the complexities of African and diasporic identities. Central to the show is The African Library (2018), a monumental installation of 6,000 books wrapped in Shonibare’s signature Dutch wax-printed fabric, each embossed with the names of key figures who shaped postcolonial Africa, such as Nelson Mandela and Kwame Nkrumah. A digital interface complements the installation, offering historical and biographical insights into these influential figures.
Shonibare’s use of Dutch wax fabric—a material inspired by Indonesian batik, mass-produced in Europe, and widely embraced in West Africa—remains a hallmark of his practice, symbolizing the entangled histories of Africa and Europe. Notable works on display include Refugee Astronaut X (2024), created specifically for the Malagasy context, and earlier pieces like Alien Woman on Flying Machine (2011), which blend playful aesthetics with sharp political commentary. The exhibition also features quilts from his African Bird Magic series, reflecting on environmental degradation and the precolonial African relationship with nature.
In a curatorial twist, Shonibare has included a section showcasing 19 artists from Africa and its diaspora, drawn from Fondation H’s collection, including luminaries like El Anatsui and Zanele Muholi. This gesture underscores the exhibition’s theme of hybridity, fostering a cross-generational dialogue on African identity and nationhood. The opening weekend featured a roundtable discussion, The Voices of Safiotra, with prominent voices like Gus Casely-Hayford, Director of V&A East, and Smooth-Ugochukwu C. Nzewi, Curator at MoMA, New York, exploring these themes in depth.
“For me, this exhibition is about celebrating the contributions of Africans to world culture and challenging the Eurocentric narratives I encountered in my studies,” Shonibare said during the opening. “Hybridity is at the core of human identity, and I hope this show encourages viewers to embrace that complexity.”
Fondation H, a 2,200-square-meter contemporary art space founded in 2017 by Hassanein Hiridjee, provided Shonibare with carte blanche to curate this landmark exhibition. Weekly programming, including lectures, workshops, and inclusive guided tours, ensures accessibility for diverse audiences, from schoolchildren to the hearing-impaired. A trilingual catalogue, featuring essays by scholars like Malagasy professor Tiana Razafindratsimba Dominique, will be published in June 2025 to accompany the show.
Shonibare, who was born in London in 1962 and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, has long been celebrated for his interdisciplinary practice, which spans sculpture, painting, photography, film, and public works. His work has been exhibited globally, from the Venice Biennale to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art, and he was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2019. Despite previous solo shows in South Africa and smaller exhibitions in Nigeria, Safiotra marks his most comprehensive presentation in Africa, a moment he described as “symbolic” given his Nigerian heritage.
The exhibition not only highlights Shonibare’s artistic legacy but also underscores Madagascar’s growing role in the global art scene. As Fondation H continues to anchor its exhibitions in the Malagasy context, Safiotra [Hybridities/Hybridités] positions Antananarivo as a vibrant hub for contemporary African art, inviting visitors to engage with the dynamic interplay of culture, history, and identity.
Safiotra [Hybridities/Hybridités] is open to the public at Fondation H, Antananarivo, until June 2025. For more information, visit Fondation H’s official website.
