“Rites de Passage”: The Art of Tradition by Phinet Kisimba

“In ‘Rites de Passage,’ Phinet Kisimba masterfully bridges ancient traditions with contemporary art. Through a contemplative figure draped in white and the symbolic presence of a Mwanza mask, he explores the sacred feminine rites of passage in Katangese culture. The vibrant red background and traditional symbolism create a powerful dialogue between past and present, inviting us to reflect on the evolution of cultural transmission in modern Congolese society.

February 18, 2025

By Skander Kacem

The Untold Story of Antoinette Lubaki: Congo’s Avant-Garde Female Artist

Antoinette Lubaki painted in colonial Katanga in the 1920s alongside her husband Albert. Their watercolors traveled to Brussels, Geneva, and Paris, and were filed under his name. What the colonial archive missed was a partnership in which the visual language came from her side, carried from the mural tradition she grew up in into a marriage that worked as one. This article traces what their work actually was, how it was absorbed into a single masculine signature, and what an honest recovery looks like when the goal is not to flip the erasure but to retire it.

February 14, 2025

By Skander Kacem

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Meet the Artwork

Ancestral Power: Patrick Kusakana’s “Queen Mambueni”

In “Queen Mambueni,” master artist Patrick Kusakana weaves a powerful narrative of ancestral wisdom through striking black and white symbolism. Inspired by his grandmother, a traditional healer, this remarkable piece features a majestic female figure adorned with ivory tusks, surrounded by sacred animals and geometric patterns that speak to Mukongo traditions. Through this rare and exceptional work, Kusakana demonstrates his unique ability to bridge ancestral power with contemporary expression. Discover the full story of this extraordinary artwork.

February 5, 2025

By Skander Kacem

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