Launched in mid-June alongside Art Basel, one of the world’s top contemporary art fairs, Africa Basel set out to spotlight artists from Africa and its global diaspora in the heart of the Swiss city. This initiative addresses the ongoing underrepresentation of African art in major international fairs by offering a space that balances established and emerging galleries, reflecting the diversity and dynamism of today’s African art scene.

While Art Basel 2025 only features five African galleries among nearly 300 exhibitors, Africa Basel offers a more focused alternative: around twenty galleries selected by a distinguished Curatorial Board composed of leading voices in the global art world. Among them are Azu Nwagbogu (African Artists’ Foundation), Michèle Sandoz (formerly of Art Basel), Serge Tiroche (Africa First), and Greer Valley (Zeitz MOCAA).

The fair also includes panel discussions, performances, and talks designed to foster cultural and intellectual exchange between artists, collectors, curators, and the wider public.

Featured artists at Africa Basel 2025 include a mix of rising and renowned names such as Sethembile Msezane, Kudzanai Chiurai, Turiya Magadlela, Masimba Hwati, Barthélémy Toguo, and Meschac Gaba. Their works explore themes of identity, politics, spirituality, and collective memory, and offer powerful insights into the contemporary African experience.