Angolan artist Kiluanji Kia Henda has received the first-ever “Creativity for Social Change” Award, presented by the Moleskine Foundation and the Democracy and Culture Foundation.
The award ceremony took place at the historic Palazzo Reale in Milan, Italy, during the Art for Tomorrow conference, which celebrates artists using creativity to drive social impact.
Kia Henda, known for his thought-provoking work exploring themes like identity, history, and politics, earned the honor for his strong commitment to using art as a tool for transformation. The award includes a €10,000 prize, a chance to join the Creativity Pioneers Fund, and the opportunity to co-curate a panel at next year’s Art for Tomorrow conference.
The award arrives in a milestone year for the artist, who is celebrating 20 years of his career. In a heartfelt social media post, he shared his excitement and gratitude.
“What moves me most about this recognition is the fact that it also recognizes the collective projects I have been part of over the last decade, such as Fuckin’ Globo and @kinoyetu,” he wrote. “This achievement is therefore extended to all the artists with whom I have had the privilege of collaborating, and to Luanda’s creative community, which has always welcomed me with open arms and hearts.”
Importantly, Kia Henda acknowledged the shared effort behind his success. He praised the creative network that supported him, calling it a “true family” that brought meaning to his journey through “love, affection, sharing, and also knowledge.”
After receiving more than 160 nominations from around the world, the Award selection committee, composed of Dimitris Daskalopoulos, Sebabatso Manoeli, Simon Njami, and Kim Conniff Taber, unanimously decided to celebrate Kiluanji Kia Henda’s work for the first-ever award.
