5 Artists from the MACAAL Collection: Celebrating Africa’s Artistic Diversity

The Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL) in Marrakech, a cornerstone for contemporary African art, is preparing to reopen its doors on February 2, 2025. With a newly transformed space and the inaugural permanent exhibition Seven Contours, One Collection, MACAAL invites visitors to rediscover Africa’s rich cultural and artistic heritage. This pivotal occasion celebrates not just the museum’s physical transformation but also its renewed dedication to fostering dialogue and understanding around African art.

MACAAL: A Beacon of African Contemporary Art

Since its foundation in 2016 by the Lazraq family as one of the first contemporary art museums on the continent, MACAAL has cultivated a reputation for presenting diverse, thought-provoking exhibitions with a strong focus on Moroccan artists and artists from the continent. The upcoming reopening marks a significant milestone, with redesigned gallery spaces, a new media library, and annual site-specific installations. Supported by Fondation Alliances, MACAAL’s evolution underscores its mission to serve as a dynamic, educational, and accessible platform for African art on the global stage.

Moreover, thanks to thematic rooms and dedicated exhibitions, MACAAL aims to further enhance visitor engagement and their overall experience in the museum. New features such as a timeline room, which contextualizes the historical and cultural milestones of African art, and an artist room dedicated to solo and group exhibitions, promise to shed new light on the continent’s artistic contributions.

The Collection: A Testament to Artistic Legacy

Spanning more than four decades, the MACAAL collection reflects the dedication and passion of the Lazraq family. Comprising over 2,000 works, the collection encompasses a wide array of media, including painting, sculpture, photography, textiles, and digital art. The inaugural exhibition Seven Contours, One Collection will feature more than 150 pieces, arranged thematically across seven galleries. The curators choose key themes in today’s discourse, from decolonization to ecological consciousness, language, crafts, and Afro-diasporic movements, highlighting the complexities and richness of the African continent and the Moroccan region.

What makes this collection particularly compelling is its balance between showcasing prominent figures in African modernism and celebrating emerging voices. Curators Morad Montazami and Madeleine de Colnet, alongside MACAAL’s artistic director Meriem Berrada, have envisioned a space where history and innovation coexist. Alongside the main collection, the museum will also present two new site-specific installations by Salima Naji and Aïcha Snoussi. Designed to spark conversation and engage with viewers, the exhibition display incorporates the contributions of scenographer Franck Houndégla, who further brought these themes to life with a dynamic and immersive spatial design.

Spotlight on 5 Artists from the Collection

The reopening of MACAAL is more than an institutional milestone, it’s a celebration of African creativity and resilience. By showcasing both established and emerging talents, such as Chaïbia Talal, Jilali Gharbaoui, Salah El Mur, Chris Soal, or Maya Ines Touam, the museum continues to foster an inclusive narrative of the continent’s artistic legacy. With such an extensive collection and richness of themes, we’ve selected five representative artists who best summarize MACAAL’s commitment and contribution to contemporary art.

1. Malick Sidibé

Malick Sidibé was a celebrated Malian photographer whose work captured the vibrant spirit of post-colonial Bamako, Mali in the 1960s and 1970s. Known as the “Eye of Bamako,” he became renowned for his black and white photographs that documented the city’s youth culture with a unique blend of documentary and artistic flair.

Sidibé’s images, often featuring stylishly dressed individuals at parties, weddings, and social gatherings, offer a glimpse into a period of social and cultural transformation in Mali, following the country’s independence. They showcase the exuberance and optimism of a generation embracing newfound freedoms, experimenting with new fashions, and enjoying the freedoms of independence. Sidibé’s photographs, whether candidly capturing the energy of a dance party or meticulously staging portraits in his studio, provide a timeless record of a dynamic and evolving society. His work transcends mere documentation, elevating everyday moments into works of art that resonate with viewers across cultures and generations.

2. Billie Zangewa

Billie Zangewa is a celebrated Malawian artist renowned for her intricate and luminous collages created from hand-sewn silk fabric. Her art explores themes of femininity, domesticity, and the female experience within contemporary African society. Her signature style involves meticulously cutting and stitching together fragments of raw silk to form figurative compositions, often depicting scenes of everyday life, intimate portraits, and evocative landscapes.

Zangewa’s work transcends mere craft, elevating the act of sewing into a powerful form of artistic expression. Through her meticulous technique and evocative imagery, she creates works that are both visually stunning and deeply meaningful, inviting viewers to contemplate the intricacies of the human experience and the enduring power of female creativity.

3. Hassan Hajjaj

Often referred to as the “Andy Warhol of Marrakech,” Hassan Hajjaj merges traditional Moroccan aesthetics with global pop culture. Known for his vibrant and playful photographs, his work often features bold colors, patterns, and everyday objects, creating a unique blend of high and low culture.

Hajjaj’s signature style involves photographing individuals in elaborate costumes and settings, often incorporating elements of Moroccan tradition with contemporary influences like hip-hop and street fashion. In displaying his photographs, Hajjaj frequently features found objects like Coca-Cola cans and recycled materials, which he recontextualizes as artistic elements and often uses to decorate the frames of his pictures, creating striking visual compositions. Through his work, he explores themes of globalization, consumerism, and the interplay between tradition and modernity in contemporary society.

4. Serge Attukwei Clottey

Serge Attukwei Clottey is a Ghanaian artist who explores themes of migration, identity, and the environment through his use of found objects, particularly discarded yellow plastic water containers (originally used during the severe shortages in the 2000s). Known as “Afrogallonism,” his practice transforms these ubiquitous containers into intricate sculptures, installations, and performances, raising awareness about plastic pollution and the complexities of globalization.

Clottey’s work often incorporates elements of Ghanaian culture and traditions, creating a powerful dialogue between local and global contexts. His works challenge viewers to reconsider the environmental and socio-economic dynamics of modern Africa.

5. Abdoulaye Konaté

Abdoulaye Konaté is a Malian artist renowned for his monumental textile sculptures that blend traditional African weaving techniques with contemporary art practices. Born in 1953 in Mali, Konaté’s artistic practice is deeply rooted in the vibrant history and culture of his homeland. He draws inspiration from the rich traditions of Malian textiles, such as bogolanfini (mud cloth), incorporating these techniques into his own innovative approach. Konaté creates large-scale installations using brightly colored fabrics, often incorporating recycled materials and found objects like metal scraps and discarded plastic. These materials, imbued with the stories of their past lives, add another layer of meaning to his work.

Konaté’s work explores a wide range of themes, including spirituality, history, and social and political issues. He often addresses the complexities of contemporary African society, reflecting on issues such as globalization, colonialism, and the impact of modernization on traditional cultures.