AKAA - Also Known As Africa

The first contemporary African art fair in France

AKAA — Also Known As Africa was created in 2016 by Victoria Mann, a Franco-Cameroonian gallerist and curator passionate about the artistic scenes of the African continent. Faced with the lack of visibility for African artists in major international fairs, she envisioned a dedicated, ambitious, and accessible event capable of bringing together galleries, collectors, institutions, and art lovers around contemporary African creation. From its very first edition, AKAA has established itself as a major event on the Parisian art scene, attracting a curious and discerning audience to the Carreau du Temple, in the Marais district.

Le Carreau du Temple: a heritage setting for African art

AKAA takes place at the Carreau du Temple, a former 19th-century market hall restored and transformed into a versatile cultural space in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris. Under its majestic metal framework, galleries display their stands over 2,000 m², in a bright and welcoming setting that beautifully showcases the works presented. Beyond the commercial fair, AKAA offers an ambitious cultural program combining monumental installations, special projects, talks, and performances, making each edition a truly immersive artistic experience.

2024 Edition: African voices and transatlantic dialogues

The 9th edition of AKAA was held from October 18 to 20, 2024, at the Carreau du Temple. This edition highlighted the cultural exchanges between Africa, the Americas, and the Caribbean, with a particular focus on the overseas artistic scene. Around thirty international galleries presented works of painting, sculpture, photography, and design, illustrating the richness and diversity of contemporary African and diasporic artistic expressions.

2025 Edition: Tenth anniversary under the artistic direction of Sitor Senghor

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, AKAA hosted from October 23 to 25, 2025, more than 70 artists under the artistic direction of Sitor Senghor, a Franco-Senegalese curator, gallerist, and collector. This anniversary edition clearly aimed to put material at the center of the game, whether pigmented, woven, enameled, or repurposed. The exhibited works explored the richness of African artisanal know-how and its dialogue with contemporary creation, in a scenography designed to enhance the diversity of techniques and materials.

A key player in the contemporary African art market

In ten years, AKAA has become a key player in the contemporary African art market in Europe. The fair has contributed to the international recognition of many artists from the continent and the diaspora, while raising awareness among an ever-wider audience about the richness of African creation. Driven by Victoria Mann and the team at Bureau Contemporary Art Events, AKAA continues to evolve, affirming its place at the heart of the Parisian art week in October, alongside Paris+ by Art Basel.