This archive report was first published on 14 May 2021.
Published on May 14, 2021, this podcast episode delves into the thriving African contemporary art market, featuring an insightful conversation between Nigerian writer and journalist Ayodeji Rotinwa and the esteemed Ethiopian gallerist Mesai Haileleul.
Haileleul's journey in the art world began in the 1990s when he opened the first gallery representing Ethiopian artists in Los Angeles. Today, he co-runs Addis Fine Art, a leading contemporary gallery specializing in art from the Horn of Africa and its diaspora, with venues in London and Addis Ababa.
Rotinwa and Haileleul discuss the factors driving international interest in African contemporary art, as well as the importance of focusing on the home market. They touch on various topics, including the history of the art scene in Addis Ababa and the challenges of building arts infrastructure in a region where priorities often lie with building roads and schools.
This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in the business of culture and how to support it.
