![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WVYP3B6HWRCYVPKPYZUUD63VDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=bee5a0fb33e46679f308ff8343edfbf75906af27d81ea5e0ceb0da3ab5ab142c&width=400&height=225)
The digitally layered photograph 'Acoit' (2020) by Ugandan artist Ethel Aanyu. Photo: Afriart
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2FF4WDLC5NA27GPXEOOHNQ7K6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=0ac023f4e982d643c43af9ef456635e286d41b28a1356100c99e1befbae75249&width=400&height=225)
Kassou Seydou's diptych 'Djogue' sells at Galerie Cecile Fakhoury in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The gallery, founded in 2012, has already opened up a second space in Senegal and is launching a third in Paris. Photo: Galerie Cecile Fakhoury
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I3P7WYRN6DFWFJZTQETJSFGR7A.jpg?smart=true&auth=347ac4ddb02fbaf872fbc2fa42dfc62d96a8d30928eba5a4886ad363a4e78a9b&width=400&height=225)
The painting 'St Madiba', 2019, by the British-Ghanaian artist Godfried Donkor, on sale at Gallery 1957's presentation at the 1-54 African art fair in London. Gallery 1957 sold out its entire both. Photo: 1-54
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P4C5FNGK3NHJ7HFFK4JDVJ6FSE.jpg?smart=true&auth=93e4b33762542d5b6d5865d116cc8970189fe9a7759243c02542523f0e88033e&width=400&height=225)
Touria El Glaoui, who founded 1-54, at Somerset House in London. Photo: 1-54
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AKVLOQOPBJFDLJ75GVBLFWY3JE.jpg?smart=true&auth=e04b719eb6440b195fb2b1689c83fd8f55e228bbf67e24f01a0346c075ce3f41&width=400&height=225)
Amoako Boafo's 'Hands Up' went for $3.3 million last December at Christie's in Hong Kong – a startling ascent for the Ghanaian artist. Photo: Christie's
Daudi Karungi runs the Afriart Gallery in Uganda, as well as an art journal and the Kampala Art Biennale. He is shown here with works by Henry Mzili Mujunga in the background. Photo: Afriart
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VNCEK2PW4BG37HTEMJGP6OA37Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=24e96db58bd549cfe61b74c19872b477c6f009fedc53830541fa21f5a2597aa0&width=400&height=225)
Galerie Cecile Fakhoury's bespoke space in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Photo: Galerie Cecile Fakhoury
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DVUSEP7QURC6FKH6YNFCKZWIBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=b36c67a1e4f498ea4aeedde7646e340bbcc3bff1156f7570254545bbe9ee7ce7&width=400&height=225)
As part of their foundation, Galerie MAM has set up a residency site in Suza, about an hour from the Cameroon capital of Douala. Photo: Fondation MAM
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XE43KBXNTJW2POUWIAQH7XI54U.jpg?smart=true&auth=19144a21606f7990abdf77349d40bdc3cf2b438cd0010d6275e13bda525c7829&width=400&height=225)
Malong Sanb, founder of Galerie MAM, poses in front of her gallery's booth at the ArtX annual art fair at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, in Lagos, Nigeria, on November 5, 2021. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WVYP3B6HWRCYVPKPYZUUD63VDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=bee5a0fb33e46679f308ff8343edfbf75906af27d81ea5e0ceb0da3ab5ab142c&width=400&height=225)
The digitally layered photograph 'Acoit' (2020) by Ugandan artist Ethel Aanyu. Photo: Afriart
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2FF4WDLC5NA27GPXEOOHNQ7K6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=0ac023f4e982d643c43af9ef456635e286d41b28a1356100c99e1befbae75249&width=400&height=225)
Kassou Seydou's diptych 'Djogue' sells at Galerie Cecile Fakhoury in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The gallery, founded in 2012, has already opened up a second space in Senegal and is launching a third in Paris. Photo: Galerie Cecile Fakhoury
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I3P7WYRN6DFWFJZTQETJSFGR7A.jpg?smart=true&auth=347ac4ddb02fbaf872fbc2fa42dfc62d96a8d30928eba5a4886ad363a4e78a9b&width=400&height=225)
The painting 'St Madiba', 2019, by the British-Ghanaian artist Godfried Donkor, on sale at Gallery 1957's presentation at the 1-54 African art fair in London. Gallery 1957 sold out its entire both. Photo: 1-54
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P4C5FNGK3NHJ7HFFK4JDVJ6FSE.jpg?smart=true&auth=93e4b33762542d5b6d5865d116cc8970189fe9a7759243c02542523f0e88033e&width=400&height=225)
Touria El Glaoui, who founded 1-54, at Somerset House in London. Photo: 1-54
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AKVLOQOPBJFDLJ75GVBLFWY3JE.jpg?smart=true&auth=e04b719eb6440b195fb2b1689c83fd8f55e228bbf67e24f01a0346c075ce3f41&width=400&height=225)
Amoako Boafo's 'Hands Up' went for $3.3 million last December at Christie's in Hong Kong – a startling ascent for the Ghanaian artist. Photo: Christie's
Daudi Karungi runs the Afriart Gallery in Uganda, as well as an art journal and the Kampala Art Biennale. He is shown here with works by Henry Mzili Mujunga in the background. Photo: Afriart
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VNCEK2PW4BG37HTEMJGP6OA37Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=24e96db58bd549cfe61b74c19872b477c6f009fedc53830541fa21f5a2597aa0&width=400&height=225)
Galerie Cecile Fakhoury's bespoke space in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Photo: Galerie Cecile Fakhoury
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DVUSEP7QURC6FKH6YNFCKZWIBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=b36c67a1e4f498ea4aeedde7646e340bbcc3bff1156f7570254545bbe9ee7ce7&width=400&height=225)
As part of their foundation, Galerie MAM has set up a residency site in Suza, about an hour from the Cameroon capital of Douala. Photo: Fondation MAM
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XE43KBXNTJW2POUWIAQH7XI54U.jpg?smart=true&auth=19144a21606f7990abdf77349d40bdc3cf2b438cd0010d6275e13bda525c7829&width=400&height=225)
Malong Sanb, founder of Galerie MAM, poses in front of her gallery's booth at the ArtX annual art fair at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, in Lagos, Nigeria, on November 5, 2021. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WVYP3B6HWRCYVPKPYZUUD63VDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=bee5a0fb33e46679f308ff8343edfbf75906af27d81ea5e0ceb0da3ab5ab142c&width=400&height=225)
The digitally layered photograph 'Acoit' (2020) by Ugandan artist Ethel Aanyu. Photo: Afriart
Why West African art is on the rise: 'The awakening of a sleeping giant'
West Africa's art market is on the rise and it's going global
![Melissa Gronlund](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fc451ae4e-15a2-4553-acaf-7a29665268c0.png?smart=true&auth=7b94f464cacaa1ea45c4eece566b2d02e0a33157f7ea4d7427295d4b2c7fed54&width=70&height=70)
Melissa Gronlund
10 January, 2022
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