Intergenerational Curation: Blending Old and New African Voices
What happens when you bring together the wisdom of elders and the bold energy of youth? You get something magical.
That’s the power of intergenerational curation. It is more than just putting old and new artworks in the same room—it is about sparking a conversation across time. You feel the pulse of tradition but also the electricity of fresh ideas. You see how yesterday's stories shape today’s expressions. And it’s happening all across Africa.
Galleries and museums are no longer static spaces. They’re alive with dialogue. They’re telling layered stories—stories that don’t just look back but also lean into the future. Think of them as bridges connecting the past with what’s next. Intergenerational curation invites everyone in—elders, youth, first-time visitors, and seasoned collectors. It’s respectful, powerful, and refreshing. It honours the legacy while celebrating change. And in today’s Africa, that balance is more important than ever.
Why It Matters
This isn’t just about showing “old stuff” next to “new stuff”. It is about storytelling. When you blend generations, you see continuity and growth. You realise that art evolves, just like people do. Traditional techniques still live on in digital forms. New artists reinterpret age-old symbols in ways their grandparents never imagined. That’s the magic.
A Real-Life Example: Nigeria’s Big Sculpture Exhibition
Take Nigeria’s Big Sculpture Exhibition, for example. It featured legendary artists like Bruce Onobrakpeya alongside rising talents like Fiyin Koko. What made it special? The connection. You could feel it. Ancient forms met modern styles, and somehow, it all just... worked. The exhibition wasn’t just about art—it was about legacy, mentorship, and passing the torch.
The Global Picture
This isn’t only happening in Nigeria. At Cape Town’s Zeitz MOCAA, a powerful exhibition called When We See Us brought together Black artists from different generations. It created a rich, emotional journey through decades of artistic expression.
Or look at the Afro‑Atlantic Histories exhibit in the U.S. It combined 20th-century works with cutting-edge contemporary pieces to tell stories of migration, memory, and identity. The result? A moving celebration of Black culture across time.
Collaboration is the Secret Sauce
Older artists bring experience. Young ones bring fresh tools—video, VR, social media. Put them together, and sparks fly. They learn from each other. They create together. It’s a win-win. That’s what intergenerational curation is all about—making space for everyone’s voice.
Why You Should Care
Because it’s not just about art. It is about connection. It is about understanding where we come from—and where we’re going. Intergenerational curation makes African art feel alive. It gives it a heartbeat. And it reminds us that creativity has no age limit.
So, the next time you walk into a museum or gallery, look closer. Ask whose voices you’re hearing. Look for the stories that span generations. That’s where the magic lives—in the dialogue between then and now, old and new, wisdom and wonder.