Showcasing Your Country's Artists in Dakar, at Ge'eza

For a community, an association or a collective wanting to showcase their country's artists in Dakar, Ge'eza's gallery has already hosted this kind of project several times, in the shape of exhibitions paired with a brunch, live music and a small makers' market. The process starts with a message through the contact page, naming the country, the artists in mind and the format wanted.

Examples already held at Ge'eza

The house has already run several formats of this kind. Dia Nifanena, devoted to Madagascar, brought together creations, encounters and Malagasy flavours around the artists Tefy KHT and Sarah Custer-Lalanne, with painting workshops, a market of Malagasy makers and a live music programme. The Country in the Spotlight series, for its part, has featured one country's artists at a time: a first edition devoted to Cape Verde, built around works by Olio, followed by an edition devoted to Sudan, with Israa Hamad and Yasmeen Abdalah. The guide on the Country in the Spotlight series covers the format in detail.

The usual format: exhibition, brunch, music

Each of these events paired an exhibition of works with a stretch of Ethiopian food, live music, and often a small craft market to extend the discovery beyond the paintings. The entry fee, where there was one, stayed modest, built for an accessible gathering rather than an exclusive event. The page for Dia Nifanena gives a concrete sense of what a day like this can include.

Preparing a pitch

Before writing to the gallery, it helps to gather a few things: the artists in mind and a handful of images of their work, a rough idea of how many pieces to show, a proposed date (not a firm requirement, since the house confirms its own availability), and the intention behind the project (showcasing a diaspora, an association, a particular country). The guide on exhibiting your work at a Dakar gallery covers what is useful to send for a standard exhibition pitch; the same elements apply to a larger format with brunch and music.

What the gallery looks for in a pitch

Ge'eza's gallery, set inside a villa in Point E, shows artists from East Africa, West Africa and the diaspora across its hangs. It stays open to proposals throughout the year, with no fixed calendar or deadline announced. A clear pitch, with images and a well-defined intention, makes the first exchange easier.

Why work with a venue already used to this format

For an association or a collective running this kind of event for the first time, working with a venue that has already hosted similar formats takes care of a lot: the logistics of an exhibition (hanging, lighting, keeping the works secure), organising a brunch or an Ethiopian spread for several dozen guests, and setting a day to music with local artists. Ge'eza has already handled these details for several different countries, which leaves the group behind the project more time to focus on the artists themselves and on reaching their own community.

No commitment promised in advance

No date, capacity or hire price is announced before a direct conversation with the team: every project is discussed case by case, depending on the format in mind and the house's schedule. The reply usually comes by email or WhatsApp, with the questions needed to move forward.

How to write to the gallery

The simplest way to pitch a project is to write through the contact page, choosing the subject for a partnership or exhibition proposal, or directly on WhatsApp at +221 78 660 07 07. A few sentences describing the project, with the artists in mind, is enough to start the conversation.

Bringing your own community along, before and after

An event like this rarely runs well alone: sharing the news with your own community ahead of the date, then sharing photos or feedback afterwards, helps give this first gathering a life beyond the day itself. Several of the hangs already held at Ge'eza, such as the Country in the Spotlight series, have kept a record online long after closing, through their event pages and the articles written about them.

Starting small if a first project feels too large

A group that is unsure about taking on a full day with brunch and live music from the very first attempt can start with a smaller exhibition alone, and build toward a larger, more ambitious format later, once a first project has shown what actually works best for their own community.