Yinka ShonibareThe African Library Collection: Human Rights Activists, 2023
The African Library is considered one of his most important installations. It is part of a large-scale project comprising three libraries. Developed over several years, the work engages with the legacy of colonial history and the necessity of decolonization across three continents. In addition to The British Library (2014), which is now part of the permanent collection of the Tate, and The American Library (2018), which has been exhibited in museums across North America, The African Library was also conceived for Shonibare’s first exhibition on the African continent in Cape Town. The installation consists of six thousand books bound in wax-printed fabrics and embossed with the names of individuals who have helped shape Africa in the postcolonial era, like Rabia Djelzi and Wole Soyinka. Shonibare’s intention is to give public visibility to many people who remain little known or unknown within the Western canon.
The library is organized into thematic sections or “collections” such as literature, science, music, and art. In a study room, visitors can access a microsite to learn more about the individuals represented in the library and their contributions to shaping contemporary Africa. The African Library Collection: Human Rights Activists was conceived in 2023 as a spin-off collection, bringing together many authors who have yet to receive recognition in Europe and the United States.
