Every two years, the Dakar Biennale attracts wealthy collectors and stylish art enthusiasts to Senegal’s capital. This year, however, a new demographic is enhancing the event's appeal: Senegalese teenagers and young adults.
These young visitors flock to the biennale's main exhibition center, the Old Courthouse, often arriving with friends or dates after school. Their attire ranges from casual flip-flops to polished leather shoes, and they engage with contemporary art that many are experiencing for the first time.
Seventeen-year-old Sokna Mbene Thiam expressed excitement about the event, noting its accessibility and visual appeal for social media. She and her friends learned about the biennale through social media videos, highlighting the influence of digital platforms on youth engagement with art.
With nearly 75% of Senegal's population under 35, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has encouraged young people to attend the biennale, emphasizing art's role in education and inspiration during the opening ceremony.
Young attendees, equipped with selfie sticks and smartphones, are actively participating in the event. Ndongo Ndiaye, a 22-year-old refrigeration technician, remarked on the personal connection many feel with the art, as they document their experiences through photography.
This year's biennale features thousands of artists from Africa and its diaspora, showcasing their work across numerous venues in Dakar. The event was postponed by six months due to budgetary issues and political tensions but has since transformed the city into a vibrant cultural hub.
The Old Courthouse, a historic building from the late 1950s, is set to become a permanent Palace of the Arts by 2027. It serves as a significant venue for the biennale, which addresses pressing issues such as climate change and unemployment, while also reclaiming African heritage.
Curator Salimata Diop emphasized the importance of the Old Courthouse's history, stating that it was built to symbolize colonial oppression. The current exhibition aims to make the space welcoming and relevant to contemporary audiences.
Young visitors are making the venue their own, taking selfies in front of large artworks and engaging with installations that encourage interaction. The biennale's focus on themes like colonization and climate change resonates deeply with attendees.
Notable installations include the "Haptic Library," which invites visitors to engage with books in a comfortable setting, and "Vines," where attendees experience a whimsical forest created by Moroccan artist Ghizlane Sahli.
Despite its popularity, the biennale has faced challenges, including managing visitor behavior and preserving the artworks. The Old Courthouse, once a symbol of decay, has been revitalized as a cultural space, reflecting the city's artistic renewal.
Artists exhibiting at the biennale highlight the significance of these historical venues in narrating Africa's complex past. The Old Courthouse has witnessed pivotal moments in Senegal's history, adding depth to the current artistic expressions.
In a show of support for the youth-driven event, President Faye made an unexpected visit to the Old Courthouse, reinforcing the biennale's importance in the cultural landscape of Senegal.
While the success of the biennale among young people is promising, Diop cautioned that continued support and funding are essential to maintain the event's momentum and ensure that African voices are heard in the global art scene.