Suwon community center hosts 'Ah! Africa!' special exhibition

Jeff Anoh Tembe, president of the Cameroon Association in Korea (CAMASKO), poses in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, Nov. 6, 2022. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

While South Korea is hosting the first Korea-Africa Summit this week, the Nosong Gallery at Jangan Community Center is holding a special exhibition with the theme "Ah! Africa!" from June 3 to 8 in Suwon, the capital of Gyeonggi Province.

Various traditional crafts, paintings and costumes from Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania and Ethiopia are on display to improve cultural awareness and promote understanding of the cultural diversity of multicultural communities in the city. There will also be a collaboration performance with classical guitar on Friday and a special lecture on African traditions and a traditional play on Saturday.

Lee Won-yong, a director at the city-run Jangan Community Center, told The Korea Times that few people in Korea have much knowledge of the continent of Africa. "But Africa is diverse, in terms of people and cultures. That’s why we organized this exhibition and program to promote understanding more deeply," she said.

The Jangan Community Center, established in 2006 to promote citizens' lifelong education and health, won the 2023 Public Sector Cultural Diversity Best Practices Competition. This year it will also develop various programs to improve cultural awareness and promote cultural diversity for citizens as well as special exhibitions about African countries.

"This year we'd like to understand more deeply about Cameroon through the Cameroon community in Korea," Lee said. "We'd like to understand the West African culture.”

Most of the art for this year's event comes from Cameroon, and much of it was made by the young student artist T L.Z. Anoh.

One of the organizers of the upcoming art exhibition is Jeff Anoh Tembe, president of the Cameroon Association in Korea (CAMASKO) and a resident of Korea for 22 years. About eight years ago he founded African Port, a restaurant and cultural platform in Itaewon.

“This exhibition not only serves as a cultural bridge between Africa and South Korea but also as a platform for showcasing the rich and diverse artistic heritage of Africa. By transitioning from traditional to contemporary art, the exhibition aims to highlight the evolution and dynamism of African art, dispelling stereotypes and fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation,” he told The Korea Times.

People try on African traditional clothes at last year's African exhibition at Jangan Community Center in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, last June. Courtesy of Jangan Community Center

“As an organizer, I work closely with artists, organizers, and community leaders to ensure that the exhibition authentically represents African art and culture. My responsibilities include selecting artworks, organizing events and facilitating dialogues between artists and the audience. The previous exhibition's success, marked by high attendance and positive feedback, set a high standard. Drawing from the experience of last year's exhibition, which focused on African fashion, we anticipate an even more engaging and immersive event this year. This year we aim to build on last year's success by also incorporating interactive African traditional games, a special lecture and trending musical genres to deepen the audience's engagement."

When asked about the main message of the event, he said he wished to convey to Koreans a message of openness and curiosity.

"African art is not monolithic; it is as diverse as the continent itself," he said. "We encourage Koreans to see this exhibition as an opportunity to broaden their horizons and challenge preconceived notions about Africa. In a nutshell, the African art exhibition in South Korea is more than just an art show; it is a cultural dialogue and a celebration of diversity. It underscores the importance of understanding and appreciating the artistic contributions of different cultures in our globalized world. By bridging traditional and modern art, we can find common ground and enrich our collective cultural experiences."

Jangan Community Center Director Lee Won-yong poses in front of the center in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, May 31. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

Jangan Community Center's facilities offer an art hall, art gallery, a swimming pool, fitness center and classrooms. Its education programs offer training in computing and English, Chinese, and Japanese languages, photography, calligraphy, art, classical music and musical instruments, singing, cooking, to name a few. It also caters to people with disabilities and foreign residents, including migrant workers and foreign residents.

"We will continue to carry out civic campaigns and awareness improvement education that can spread the understanding of cultural diversity of multiculturalism in the future," Lee said.

A poster for the "Ah! Africa!" special exhibition being held this week at Jangan Community Center in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Jangan Community Center

Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He's also co-founder of Hanokers, a refugee-led social initiative, and freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency.