Is African contemporary art in ex-GDR after the Second World War a legitimization of this production or the expression of politic solidarity? Such a question we are lead to ask ourselves regarding the evolution of the African contemporary art collection in the Ethnographic Museum of Leipzig. The museum which in the past time, was exclusively recognized for its non European and colonized countries arts and cultural materials collection progressively became the museum where you can see African contemporary art. What were the reasons of this deep alter in the traditional context? Is it an adaptation to the scientific tendency or the result of a political relationship with these countries? What does the presence of African contemporary art in this museum mean? Are we in a situation to speak about legitimization, political takeover or ideological influence?The main aim of this paper is to clarify these different points, to underline the ideology implication and finally, to show a theoretic basis which promotes the collection’s evolution in this direction.
Romuald Tchibozo is professor for Contemporary Art and International Cultural Relations in the field of African Art at the University of Abomey-Calavi Benin.
