The constant barrage of civil wars and conflicts in Africa has greatly influenced the works of various African artists. With their art, they share their harrowing experiences with the world and transcend to the status of history custodians.
Colonialism saw the merging of diverse ethnic groups to suit the West’s purpose of exploiting the “dark continent” for her resources. Hence, it is no surprise that when African countries gained their independence, the continent suddenly descended into an arena of conflicts, civil wars and military coups.
Though diversity is such a beautiful concept, it is not the best when the clamour for power is thrown in its midst. Divided across ethnic lines and staunch religious affiliations, Africans all over the continent have had trouble maintaining peace and stability within their colonially-defined borders. The resulting civil wars have been beyond disastrous with hints of genocide sprinkled around them.
African artists whom these civil wars and conflicts have impacted are expressing their disapproving stance with their art. In their varying art styles and medium, they advocate for peace. They also draw attention to the barbarity of these wars and conflicts which plague their countries and Africa at large.
One of such artists is Gonçalo Mabunda, an anti-war artist hailing from Mozambique. He was born two years before the outbreak of the Mozambican civil war which lasted from 1977 to 1992. That war claimed more than 1 million lives and displaced so many people. Due to this unnecessary war, entire childhood was fraught with the painful occurences and loss.
Gonçalo Mabunda’s art focuses mainly on sculptures made from deactivated war weapons. With these objects of destruction, he creates anthropomorphic forms and thrones for which he is particularly known. His body of work is an ironically beautiful depiction of his harrowing childhood experiences amidst the sixteen-year war.
In 2010, a civil war broke out in Ivory coast after the conclusion of a disputed election. This war lasted for about 4 months and claimed a ballpark figure of 3000 lives. While the war raged on, Abdoulaye Diarrassouba, more commonly known as Aboudia created 21 pieces in his basement studio. These pieces were his way of recording the atrocities he witnessed whenever he ventured up and out from underground. His unnerving depictions of the tragic war marked his rise to fame.
Aboudia’s work was part of a group exhibition called “Art at War” in 2023. The exhibition was a collection of art from different African artists inspired by wars and conflicts within and outside Africa. Other artists whose works were on display include: Madiha Sebbani, Omar Ba, Olamilekan Abatan, Manga Lulu Williams, Kori Bright Awuyah, Mohamed Said Chair, Ahmed Kamel, Kirubel Melke and Bernard Brand.
While there are long-concluded civil wars in Africa, civil wars and internal conflicts are currently ravaging some countries. For instance, look at what’s happening in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Galal Yousif, a Sudanese artist with what little he could pack alongside his passport fled Sudan last year. This experience inspired his painting, ‘Man With a Heavy Heart.’ Originally a mural in Addis Ababa, he re-created the image on canvas when he found refuge in Kenya. In line with the name, the painting is that of a man with one hand over his heart. Right over his heart, we see a large circle of red and concentric dashes of red extending outwards. According to Yousif, this piece is a visual representation of how his heart bleeds over the ongoing war in Sudan.
In DRC, an eighty-year-old embroidery artist is working tirelessly to document the wars in the country with her works. This artist is none other than Ms. Lucie Kamuswekera. As a young girl in missionary school, she learnt the art of embroidery from nuns. This was during the Belgian colonial era in Congo.
For the longest time, flowers and birds were the only things she thought to make. However, following the death of her husband during the Congo war which saw the deposition of Mobutu Sese Seko, she could no longer stitch images of flowers. All she could focus on was the war around her. The never-ending war and constant conflicts in the country.
Tucked away in her small studio in the city of Goma, Ms. Kamuswekera is constantly adding to her embroidery archive. Her works are not limited to the recent conflicts alone. They stretch as far back as events from the Belgian colonial times in the country. In her own words, she asserts that the history of the country must be preserved. Diligently, she has kept at this for over thirty years.
How can a country so rich be so poor? The constant warring over control of natural resources is one which has greatly devastated the land and the people. When does it end?
All these are just snippets and little glimpses of how conflicts and wars in Africa have shaped the artistic expression of African artists. One thing is clear : these violent events have been traumatising and devastating.
Wouldn’t it be nice for African artists to create art without the constantly looming guillotine of wars and conflicts? That would be a most welcome change. For now, African artists will continue to use their art to oppose the senseless violence all around the continent.
