The 60th Venice Biennale is about to open its doors from 20 April–24 November 2024. Curator Adriano Pedrosa invited 331 artists and collectives to show their work under the title Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere. A majority of the participants is coming from the Global South.

These are the artists from Africa and the global diaspora participating in the main exhibition: 

Mariam Abdel-Aleem (Egypt), Karimah Ashadu (UK, Germany, Nigeria), Leilah Babirye (Uganda), Ezekiel Baroukh (Egypt), Baya, aka Bordj El Kiffan (Algeria), Aly Ben Salem (Tunisia), Mohammed Chebaa (Morocco), Kudzanai Chiurai (Zimbabwe), Jaime Colson (Dominican Republic), Djanira da Motta e Silva (Brazil), Inji Efflatoun (Egypt), Uzo Egonu (Nigeria), Ibrahim El-Salahi (Sudan), Ben Enwonwu (Nigeria), Hamed Ewais (Egypt), Dumile Feni (South Africa), Victor Fotso Nyie (Cameroon), Sàngódáre Gbádégesin Àjàlá (Nigeria), Gabrielle Goliath (South Africa), Lauren Halsey (USA), Tahia Halim (Sudan), Nazek Hamdi (Egypt), Mohamed Hamidi (Morocco), Evan Ifekoya (Nigeria), Mohammed Issiakhem (Algeria), Nour Jaouda (Egypt), Rindon Johnson (USA), Mohammed Kacimi (Morocco), Bouchra Khalili (Morocco), Kiluanji Kia Henda (Angola), Shalom Kufakwatenzi (Zimbabwe), Grace Salome Kwami (Ghana), Maggie Laubser (South Africa), Simon Lekgetho (South Africa), Bertina Lopes (Mozambique), Esther Mahlangu (South Africa), Ernest Mancoba (South Africa), Josiah Manzi (Zimbabwe), Mohamed Melehi (Morocco), Gladys Mgudlandlu (South Africa), Sabelo Mlangeni (South Africa), Ahmed Morsi (Egypt), Effat Naghi (Egypt), Malangatana Valente Ngwenya (Mozambique), Taylor Nkomo (Zimbabwe), Philomé Obin (Haiti), Sénèque Obin (Haiti), Uche Okeke (Nigeria), Lydia Ourahmane (Algeria), Dalton Paula (Brazil), George Pemba (South Africa), Sandra Poulson (Angola, Portugal), Abel Rodríguez (Colombia), Mahmoud Saïd (Egypt), Gerard Sekoto (South Africa), Yinka Shonibare (UK), Doreen Sibanda (Zimbabwe), Lucas Sithole (South Africa), Irma Stern (South Africa), Twins Seven Seven (Nigeria), Ahmed Umar (Sudan), Agnes Waruguru (Kenya), Susanne Wenger (Nigeria), Nil Yalter (Egypt), Ramses Younan (Egypt).

In 18 National Pavilions you will also find perspectives from the continent as well as from diasporic artists, collectives and curators: 

Benin* « Everything Precious Is Fragile »
Curator: Azu Nwagbogu
Artists: Chloé Quenum, Moufouli Bello, Ishola Akpo, Romuald Hazoumè
Venue: Arsenale

Cameroon « Nemo propheta in patria (“no man is a prophet in his own land”) »
Curators: Paul Emmanuel Loga Mahop and Sandro Orlandi Stagl
Artists: Jean Michel Dissake, Hako Hankson, Kendji & Ollo Arts, Patrick-Joël Tatcheda Yonkeu, Guy Wouete, Angelo Accardi, Julia Bornefeld, Cesare Catania, Adélaïde Laurent-Bellue, Franco Mazzucchelli, Rex and Edna Volcan, Giorgio Tentolini, Liu Youju
Venue: Palazzo Donà delle Rose, Fondamente Nove, 5038

Canada « Trinket »
Curator: Gaëtane Verna
Artist: Kapwani Kiwanga
Venue: Arsenale

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) „Lithium »
Curators: Michele Gervasuti and James Putnam
Artists: Aimé Mpane, Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga, Eddy Ekete, Jean Katambayi Mukendi, Cédric Sungo, Steve Bandoma, Eléonore Hellio and Michel Ekeba of the collective Kongo Astronauts
Venue: Gervasuti Foundation – Palazzo Canova, Calle longa Santa Caterina, Cannaregio 4998 – 5001/a

Egypt « Drama »
Curator/ artist: Wael Shawky
Venue: Giardini

Ethiopia* « Prejudice and belonging »
Curator: Lemn Sissay
Artist: Tesfaye Urgessa
Venue: Palazzo Bollani, Castello 3647

France 
Curators: Céline Kopp and Cindy Sissokho
Artist: Julien Creuzet
Venue: Arsenale

Great Britain « Listening All Night To The Rain »
Curator: Tarini Malik
Artist: John Akomfrah
Venue: Arsenale

Ivory Coast « The Blue Note »
Curator: Simon Njami
Artists: Jems Koko Bi, François Xavier Gbré, Sadikou Oukpedjo, Franck Abd-Bakar Fanny,
Marie Claire Messouma
Venue: Centro Culturale Don Orione Artigianelli – Dorsoduro 947

Kenya « Roots of Return »
Curator: Edward Mwaura Ndekere
Artists: The Mutuma Marangu Sculpture and Art Collection (TMMSAC) including Elkana Ong’esa, Gerald Oroo Motondi, Robin Okeyo Mbera, John Tabule Abuya Ogao, Peter Kenyanya Oendo, Charles Duke Kombo

Netherlands 
Curator: Hicham Khalidi
Artists: Matthieu Kasiama Kilapi, Ced’art Tamasala, and Lisette Mbuku Kimpala aka Cercle d’Art des Travailleurs de Plantation Congolaise (CATPC) collective, and Renzo Martens
Venue: Arsenale

Nigeria « Nigeria Imaginary »
Curator: Aindrea Emelife
Artists: Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, Ndidi Dike, Onyeka Igwe, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Abraham Oghobase, Precious Okoyomon, Yinka Shonibare and Fatimah Tuggar
Venue: Palazzo Canal, Rio Terà Canal, Dorsoduro 3121

Portugal « Greenhouse »
Curator and artists: Mónica de Miranda, Vânia Gala and Sónia Vaz Borges
Venue: Arsenale

Senegal* « Bokk – Bounds »
Curator: Massamba Mbaye
Artist: Alioune Diagne
Venue: Arsenale

South Africa « Quiet Ground »
Curator: Portia Malatjie
Artists: MADEYOULOOK (Molemo Moiloa and Nare Mokgotho)
Venue: Arsenale

Tanzania* « A Flight in Reverse Mirrors »
Curator: Enrico Bittoto
Artists: Happy Robert, Naby, Haji Chilonga, Lutengano Mwakisopile
Venue: La Fabbrica del Vedere, Calle del Forno 3857

Uganda « Wan Acel | Tuli Bamu | Turibamwe | We Are One »
Curator: Elizabeth Acaye Kerunen
Artists: Artisan Weavers’ Collective, Sana Gateja, Taga Nuwagaba, Xenson Ssenkaba, Jose Hendo, Odur Ronald
Venue: Bragora Gallery, Castello 3496

Zimbabwe „Undone »
Curator: Fadzai Veronica Muchemwa
Artists: Gillian Rosselli, Kombo Chapfika, Moffat Takadiwa, Sekai Machache, Troy Makaza, Victor Nyakauru
Venue: Santa Maria della Pietà, Castello 3701

*First participation at the Venice Biennale.

Here are some collateral events and exhibitions in the city of Venice:

Josèfa Ntjam: swell of spæc(i)es
Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia, Venice, Italy
20 Apr 2024 – 24 Nov 2024

Julie Mehretu: Ensemble
Palazzo Grassi—Punta della Dogana
17 Mar 2024 – 6 Jan 2025

Dread Scott’s All African Peoples’ Consulate
Castello Gallery, Castello 1636/A
20 Apr 2024 – 24 Nov 2024

Passengers in transit – Group Show
193 Gallery
20 Apr 2024 – 24 Nov 2024

Elias Sime: Dichotomy
Tanarte, Castello 2125,
20 Apr 2024 – 24 Nov 2024

William Kentridge: Self-Portrait as a Coffee-Pot
Arsenale Institute for Politics of Representation
20 Apr 2024 – 24 Nov 2024

Unspoken Wars: Mário Macilau and Nahom Teklehaimanot
AKKA Project/1
18 Apr 2024 – 8 Jun 2024

The Resident Outcome: Osaru Obaseki
AKKA Project/1
13 Jun 2024 – 13 Sept  2024

Mark Bradford: Process Collettivo 2016 – 2024
Campo San Maurizio
Until 5 May 2024

Wael Shawky: I am Hymns of the New Temples
Palazzo Grimani/2
17 Apr 2024 – 30 Jun 2024