Collage of slides presented in lecture 1 (© Ernst Wagner)
What should German pupils know about art in sub-Saharan Africa?
In spring 2026, a small group of EVC experts set out to address this question. The team comprised Pfunzo Sidogi (TUT, Pretoria), Sikho Siyotula (UP, Pretoria), Bernadette Van Haute (UNISA, Pretoria), and Ernst Wagner (Munich). Together, they outlined initial concepts—exploring not only this primary topic, but also the complementary counterpart: What should South African pupils know about art in Europe?
Delivered between mid-September and mid-October 2026, the series spanned ancient empires, the impact of Christian missions and colonialism, post-colonial modernism, and the contemporary art scene across sub-Saharan Africa. Developed primarily by Sikho Siyotula, the conceptual framework served as the foundation for presentations by Pfunzo Sidogi and Ernst Wagner, each offering distinct perspectives across the four key themes.
Below you will find the original lecture announcements alongside the recorded video presentations by Pfunzo Sidogi, each accompanied by commentary from Ernst Wagner. The slide decks are available upon request via
Lecture 1: Early Civilisations and Kingdoms
From the ancient rock art of the San and early Nok terracotta sculptures dating well before the Common Era, to the sophisticated bronze casting of Ife and the Kingdom of Benin after 1000 CE and the monumental architecture of the Shona: sub-Saharan Africa looks back on a profound heritage of advanced societies. This opening lecture explores the technical virtuosity and philosophical depth defining these key regions and eras.
Video (Lecture by Pfunzo Sidogi)
Lecture 2: Missionisation and Colonialism
Nkisi power figures—long reductively labeled "fetishes"—vividly illustrate how Christian missionary art interacted with African visual culture, sparking entirely novel modes of expression. The second lecture traces these artistic developments, examining the dynamic interplay between indigenous traditions and global encounters that continues to inform creative practice across the continent today.
Video (Lecture by Pfunzo Sidogi)
Lecture 3: Modernism and Decoloniality
With the wave of hard-won independence starting in the 1950s, artistic practice became central to envisioning an "African future". Artists forged independent paths between global, European-inflected modernism and emerging Pan-Africanist or Afrocentric movements. This lecture examines key positions within these debates through the lens of selected practitioners,
Video (Lecture by Pfunzo Sidogi)
Lecture 4: Contemporary Art and the Diaspora
The contemporary art scene in sub-Saharan Africa is widely recognized as one of the most dynamic in the world. Beyond major metropolitan hubs, close exchanges between local initiatives and the global diaspora have nurtured vital new artistic positions. Often rooted in everyday life and realized collaboratively, these practices have produced groundbreaking works. Focusing on recent artistic production—primarily from Ghana, South Africa, and Kenya—this lecture highlights positions currently capturing international attention at major biennials and documenta.