In 1948, Frédéric Bruly Bouabré, a young Ivorian former colonial navy officer, living in Dakar, Senegal—then the capital of French west Africa—had a vision. The skies opened up, revealing seven suns dancing around a central star. Bouabré changed his name to Cheik Nadro, “the Revealer,” and dedicated his life to inventing a new writing system for his people, the Bété. Bouabré is the first Ivorian artist to have his work showcased in a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, which will be on display through Aug. 13, 2022. The exhibit pays homage to Bouabré’s decades-long career, showcasing 11 series of drawings totaling more than 1,000 individual works, including his two best-known bodies of work, Alphabet Bété (1990-91) and Connaissance du monde (1987-2008.)
SOURCE: QUARTZ AFRICA
More Stories
Senegalese Chef Pierre Thiam Wants African Food to be Considered World-Class
Africa Avant-Garde: Transformative Architecture
Nine Must-See Queer History Spots in Africa
Africa Fashion Up Contest Celebrates Future of African Style
Abel Selaocoe Finds a Home in Improvisation
Movie about African Warrior Queen a Hit at the Box Office
One of the Zambia’s Best-kept Secrets
Africa’s Largest Air Cargo Operator Bags Two Prestigious Awards at Air Cargo News Awards
Namibia Calls Out to Adventurous Hikers
A New Bespoke 21-day African Luxury Itinerary
Tough Times Lie Ahead for Banks in Africa
The Most Prominent Challenge Female Entrepreneurs Face across Sub-Saharan Africa