Art Index Africa Spotlight: 5 Women Accelerating Action in African Art
As we celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025, the world is rallying behind this year’s theme: "Accelerate Action." It is a powerful call to push harder for gender equality, to amplify women's voices, and to create real change—now, not decades from now. In Africa’s contemporary art scene, women are already answering this call in bold, creative, and transformative ways.
Art has always been a medium for resistance, storytelling, and empowerment, and African women artists are using it to reshape narratives, reclaim history, and challenge societal norms. Whether through painting, sculpture, photography, or curatorial work, these women are making sure African voices—especially female voices—are heard loud and clear on the global stage.
In this digest, we’re spotlighting five emerging African women artists who are accelerating action, breaking barriers, and redefining what it means to be a woman in contemporary art. Their work isn’t just beautiful—it is powerful, it is necessary, and it is shaping the future of African art.
1. Tony Gum
Born in 1995 in Cape Town, South Africa, Tony Gum began her artistic journey through a creative blog at the age of 15, leveraging social media to develop her image-making talent. Her work is inspired by her cultural heritage and personal experiences, contributing to the contemporary African art scene.
2. Hawa Awanle Ayiboro
Ghanaian artist Hawa Awanle Ayiboro centres her work on women's struggles and empowerment. According to reports, at age 12, Ayiboro resisted marrying an older man with her aunt's support, an experience that deeply influences her artistic creations. Her solo exhibition, "Fine Feathers Don't Make Fine Birds," debuted on February 13 in Accra's Gallery 1957.
3. Missla Libsekal
Missla Libsekal is an independent curator, writer, and cultural producer based in Vancouver, Canada. She has contributed significantly to bringing African artists to international prominence. Through her efforts, she has helped to disrupt the global arts scene and offer fresh perspectives on African art.
4. Coumba Samba
Born in 2000, Senegalese-American interdisciplinary artist Coumba Samba's practice spans sculpture, installation, and performance. Her work explores the intersections of material culture, ideology, and diasporic narratives.
5. Nana Oforiatta Ayim
Nana Oforiatta Ayim is a writer, filmmaker, and art historian. While researching for her Master's in African Art History, she realised that all of the terms and concepts used to describe Ghanaian artistic expression were Western and that it was nearly impossible for her academic research to uncover philosophies or theories that stemmed from the context in which they were created. Her research led her to the Ayan, a Ghanaian historical storytelling technique, and the Afahye, a historical exhibition or Gesamtkunstwerk model.
These five women, just like many others from the continent, exemplify the spirit of "Accelerate Action," not only in their artistic endeavours but also in their roles as cultural ambassadors and change-makers. They reflect a continent rich in history, resilience, and innovation. As we celebrate International Women's Day 2025, let their stories inspire us to support and champion the voices of African women in contemporary art, acknowledging their pivotal role in shaping a more equitable and vibrant global art scene.