Also Known As Africa (AKAA), Paris’s leading fair for contemporary art and design from Africa and its diasporas, will celebrate its 10th edition from October 24 to 26, 2025, at the Carreau du Temple.
Over the past decade, AKAA has evolved into a vital platform linking artists, galleries, and collectors, and this anniversary signals both celebration and renewal. From its earliest editions, the fair has showcased the continent’s creative diversity. Now, under new artistic director Sitor Senghor, AKAA is sharpening its identity.
This year’s theme highlights the physical power of art. Through pigment, textiles, ceramics, and enamel, AKAA will feature works that emphasize craft and substance. Organizers describe materiality as “the starting point for spontaneous creation, as opposed to a purely conceptual approach.”
Around 30 galleries and 50 artists are expected to participate, blending established figures with emerging voices. Senghor explained that the new selection committee, featuring Mamadou-Abou Sarr, Eve Therond, and Andy Amadi Okoroafor, aimed to foster dialogue while drawing in artists who often appear at other major fairs. The strategy positions AKAA to attract both seasoned collectors and cultural institutions.
At the same time, the fair is strengthening its economic foundation. “Galleries need to make sales. Without this economic balance, the event loses its meaning,” Senghor said. By balancing cultural vision with commercial viability, AKAA reinforces its role in the international art market.
Marking the occasion, AKAA partnered with Movart Gallery (also celebrating its 10th anniversary) for the fair’s visual campaign. Mozambican photographer Mário Macilau created the official poster, adding symbolic weight to the milestone.
As Paris enters its bustling art season, AKAA’s 10th edition stands as both a commemoration and a turning point. By uniting beauty, material depth, and market opportunity, the fair seeks to expand its influence and secure Africa’s place at the center of the contemporary art conversation.
