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Wednesday 16 July 2014

Africa's contemporary art is booming ... so buy it while you can


The contemporary art coming from Africa today is as varied and exhilarating as from any other place in the world, says Chibundu Onuzo. Here a creation by Mozambican Goncalo Mabunda, famous for his sculptures made of recycled AK47s.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria in 1991, Chibundu Onuzo is the author of "The Spider King's Daughter" (Faber, 2012.) The novel has won a Betty Task Award and been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book Prize. The opinions expressed in this article are solely hers.

 I walked into the Gallery of African Art (GAFRA) on London's Cork Street in Mayfair two weeks ago. Opposite the Burlington Arcade, right at the heart of the art establishment, on gallery row itself, African art formerly seen as a niche interest, now officially playing with the big boys. And the best thing ... GAFRA is owned and run by a woman: Liberian born Bendu Cooper.


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