The UK Government Art Collection has acquired Journaliste by British-Congolese artist Djofray Makumbu, marking a significant addition to its holdings.
The portrait honors Paul Bazakana Bayete, a Congolese journalist whose work with Salongo and Ebène Magazine played a crucial role in shaping African cultural discourse during the 1980s and 90s.
Makumbu grew up in East London and paints from lived memory. Bazakana wasn’t just a subject, he was also a friend of the artist’s father and a familiar presence in his childhood home. The result is a portrait that merges personal experience with broader political meaning. Behind the sitter, a photograph of Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba adds historical depth, linking journalism, diaspora, as well as postcolonial legacy in one frame.
The composition is calm and deliberate. Warm yellows and browns soften the background, while the journalist’s focused expression anchors the image in quiet strength. Makumbu outlines the figure in bold black, drawing attention to the subject’s presence without overpowering it. His technique, a blend of animation, painting, and storytelling, reflects his training at Goldsmiths and the Royal Academy Schools.
Makumbu’s work often explores identity, migration, and Black British experience. Journaliste continues that trajectory, honoring not just one individual, but an entire generation of African thinkers who shaped cultural identity across borders.
The Government Art Collection, which places works in British embassies and government buildings worldwide, describes this acquisition as part of its commitment to reflecting the UK’s cultural diversity. In doing so, it helps ensure that the contributions of diasporic communities are recognized not as peripheral, but essential to the national story.
