African nations are making a powerful collective statement at the 2026 Venice Biennale, with many showcasing distinctive national visions on the world’s most prestigious art stage. Somalia is participating for the first time. Hosted at Palazzo Caboto, the country’s “Saddexleey” pavilion (meaning “The Nation of Poets”) uses a triadic poetic structure to explore memory through the works of Ayan Farah, Asmaa Jama, and Warsan Shire. Nearby, the Senegal Pavilion challenges the value of “Wurus” (Gold) and the conflicts it generates, while Ethiopia’s “Shapes of Silence” by Tegene Kunbi reframes silence as a powerful social presence. The exhibition also sparked a major free-speech debate: South African artist Gabrielle Goliath faced censorship attempts from her government over a tribute to a Palestinian poet, but eventually secured an independent venue at the Church of Sant’Antonin with the support of the global art community.
Africanews
