🇬🇦GabonCentral Africa
Contemporary Art Days in Libreville advocate for African art's role and development
via Gabon Review4 min read
The Contemporary Art Days, initiated by the Spanish Embassy in Gabon, opened on July 4 at the Ministry of Arts and Culture in Libreville. The event aims to explore African creativity, its challenges, and its position within the continent's cultural dynamics. The opening ceremony was attended by diplomatic, cultural, and academic figures, including the Brazilian Ambassador to Gabon, Miguel Griesbach de Pereira Franco. A key highlight was the address by Elvira Dyangani Ose, exhibition curator and artistic director of the 2nd Abu Dhabi Public Art Biennial, who shared her perspective on contemporary African art and its future. Rafael Chaves Beardo emphasized the diplomatic and symbolic significance of these days as a platform for reflection on contemporary artistic practices, highlighting art's role in fostering connections between people, intercultural dialogue, and the exchange of ideas. Elvira Dyangani Ose advocated for an open interpretation of contemporary African art, defining it as "everything produced within the continent, but also outside, by artists from the continent." She stressed that this art draws from African societies' history, cultural heritage, diasporic realities, and future imaginaries. Dyangani Ose also addressed the structural challenges hindering the cultural sector's development in Africa, calling for stronger government commitment to sustainable cultural policies that support artists, structure industries, and strengthen institutions. She urged for incre
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A "UK-Gabon Trade & Investment Summit" is scheduled for October 6-7, 2026, in London. Organized by the Gabon Business Alliance Network UK GBAN-UK, an initiative of the diaspora supported by the British African Business Alliance, the event aims to strengthen economic cooperation between the United Kingdom and Gabon. Former Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima is among the confirmed participants. The summit intends to bring together government representatives, international investors, development finance institutions, and business leaders in the British capital. It is designed as an "investment platform" to facilitate concrete announcements, including memoranda of understanding, public-private partnerships, and financing negotiations. Jasmine Mengue Bekale, director of GBAN-UK, leads the summit, describing it as "a catalyst for long-term economic partnership" between London and Libreville. The initiative has received "in principle support" from the Ministry of Economy, which views it as an opportunity to engage British institutional investors with projects aligned with the National Growth and Development Plan PNCD. Delegates will have access to a portfolio of "bankable" projects spanning agriculture, mining, infrastructure, energy, water, housing, health, education, tourism, digital technology, and manufacturing. The summit will also feature a forum dedicated to women's and youth entrepreneurship, B2B and B2G networking sessions, and sectoral presentations. This event follows an i
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