Dak'Art

Africa's most significant contemporary art biennale, dedicated to promoting African artists

The genesis of Dak'Art can be traced to the cultural vision of Léopold Sédar Senghor, Senegal's poet-president whose philosophy of Négritude emphasized cultural pride and artistic expression. While Senghor organized the Festival Mondial des Arts Nègres in 1966, it would take another generation to establish a regular platform for contemporary artistic dialogue. Initially launched in 1989 as an alternating literature and visual arts biennale, the first edition in 1990 focused on literature. The visual arts made their debut in 1992, marking the true beginning of Dak'Art as we know it. By 1996, organizers made the strategic decision to focus exclusively on contemporary visual arts, recognizing the urgent need for a dedicated platform in this field.