Africa Centre Announces 2015 Artists in Residency Shortlist

The Africa Centre is proud to announce the names of 68 of the continent's most provocative, innovative and socially engaged artists shortlisted for their 2015 Artists In Residency (AIR) Programme. The Africa Centre works in partnership with eight residencies across the globe on this programme: Bundanon Trust (Australia); Fountainhead (USA); Instituto Sacatar (Brazil); JIWAR Creation & Society (Spain); Khoj International Artists' Association (India); Kuona Trust Arts Centre (Kenya); Nafasi Arts Space (Tanzania); and The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center (Italy).

Since 2011, AIR has provided artists across the disciplines of visual arts, literary arts, performing arts, music and film with the opportunity to participate in residency programmes throughout the world. This is a direct response to the challenges many African artists confront related to both getting accepted and funding residency costs. 2015 has been a great year for the AIR programme. The Africa Centre received 423 complete applications from 40 countries across the continent. The quality of submissions and the caliber of artists that applied was exceptional.

After a rigorous selection process that invited a panel of seasoned advisors to peruse each application and weigh in their recommendations, the following artists have been selected for the 2015 AIR shortlist.

Film: Philippa Ndisi-Herrmann (Kenya), Francois Verster (South Africa) and Yared Zeleke (Ethiopia).

Literature/Creative Writing: Doreen Baingana (Uganda), Gabeba Baderoon (South Africa), John Sibi Okumu (Kenya), Kerry Hammerton (South Africa), Lauren Beukes (South Africa), Liam Kruger (South Africa), Masande Ntshanga (South Africa), Nana Oforiatta Ayim (Ghana), Sibabalwe Oscar Masinyana (South Africa), Sindiwe Magona (South Africa), Susan Kiguli (Uganda), Titilope Sonuga (Nigeria), Togara Muzanenhamo (Zimbabwe) and Tsitsi Dangeremba (Zimbabwe).

Music: Atemi Oyungu (Kenya), Fathy Adly Salama (Egypt), Girma Yifrashewa Gebretsadik (Ethiopia) and Kato Change (Kenya).

Performing Arts: Anthea Moys (South Africa), Antonio Bukhar (Uganda), Buhlebezwe Siwani (South Africa), Nawel Skandrani (Tunisia), Siyamukelwa Nkululeko Ngcobo (South Africa) and Yuhl Nala Headman (South Africa).

Visual Arts: Andrew Esiebo (Nigeria), Aza Masongi (DRC), Bernard Akoi-Jackson (Ghana), Candice Breitz (South Africa), Chibuike Uzoma (Nigeria), Collin Sekajugo (Uganda), Elize Vossgatter (South Africa), Euridice Getúlio Kala (Mozambique), Francois Knoetze (South Africa), George Atta Kwami (Ghana), Georgia Papageorge (South Africa), Helen Sebidi (South Africa), Houda Ghorbel (Tunisia), Ibrahim Mohammed Mahama (Ghana), Jacqueline Karuti (Kenya), Jeremy Sean Waffer (South Africa), Jodi Leigh Beiber (South Africa), Joel Mpah-Dooh (Cameroon), Leslie Lumeh (Liberia), Lionel Davis (South Africa), Liza Grobler (South Africa), Marcia Kure (Nigeria), Maya Ben Chikh El Fegoun (Algeria), Meskerem Assegued Bantiwalu (Ethiopia), Mina Nasr Tadros (Egypt), Moataz Nasreldin Attia (Egypt), Modisa Motsomi (Botswana), Nicene Kossentini (Tunisia), Olu Amoda (Nigeria), Richard Mudariki (South Africa), Rowan Smith (South Africa), Sarah Peace (Nigeria), Taiye Stephanie Idahor (Nigeria), Tamrat Gezahagne (Ethiopia), Thakorbhai Kishorbhai Patel (Zimbabwe), Victor Ehighale Ehikhamenor (Nigeria), Vincent Bezuidenhout (South Africa), Wallen Mapondera (Zimbabwe), Wanja Kimani (Kenya), Yasser Booley (South Africa) and Zayd Minty (South Africa)

The final AIR award laureates will be announced in early 2016. The Africa Centre extends its heartfelt thanks to all artists who took the time and effort to prepare meaningful and considered proposals. The Africa Centre is excited by the level of art that is being produced on the continent and the continued commitment of artists to further their practice and make a significant mark on their communities both locally and internationally.

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