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Africa’s Top Artists Gather for Ethiopia Summit
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, July 21, 2026 – Addis Ababa will host one of Africa’s biggest international cultural showcases as leading contemporary artists gather for the “Unity” exhibition during the inaugural World Public Summit Africa on July 29–30, 2026.
The exhibition serves as the cultural centrepiece of the summit. It features artists from 16 African countries and presents paintings, sculptures, collages, digital art and mixed-media installations. Together, the works highlight the richness, diversity and growing global influence of contemporary African art.
Celebrating Africa’s Creative Diversity
Artists from Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe will showcase their work. An Afro-Brazilian artist will also participate, reflecting Africa’s enduring cultural ties with the diaspora.
Curators developed the exhibition around the theme “Unity.” The collection explores shared identity, cultural memory, hope and the future through different artistic perspectives. Instead of presenting a single African story, it celebrates the continent’s cultural diversity while highlighting the values that unite its people.
Summit to Bring Together Global Leaders
The World Public Summit Africa carries the theme “A New World: Africa in Shaping a Shared Future.”
More than 700 government leaders, diplomats, business executives, academics, innovators, civil society representatives and cultural leaders will attend the summit. They will discuss international cooperation, sustainable development and Africa’s growing role in shaping the future.
Featured artists include Nigeria’s Precious Longret Samuel, whose work examines culture as a living archive of collective memory. Ethiopia’s Selamawit Gebretsadik explores unity through natural symbolism, while Senegal’s Khalifa Mané reflects on the responsibility of building a shared future for coming generations.
Africa’s Top Artists Gather for Ethiopia Summit
Art as a Tool for Public Diplomacy
Andrey Belyaninov, Secretary-General of the World Peoples Assembly, said the exhibition highlights the growing role of culture in international dialogue.
“Art is one of humanity’s most universal languages and one of the most effective instruments of public diplomacy. It brings people together where words alone may fail, helping us discover what unites us despite our differences. Holding the World Public Summit in Addis Ababa is a recognition of Africa’s role as one of the centres shaping a new world.
“Today, we understand more clearly than ever: the future cannot be built alone. It is born in dialogue, in trust, in the ability to listen to one another and to act together.”
Tsegaye Chama, General Secretary of the Global Black Center, said the summit represents purposeful collaboration.
“The Summit will be delivered with exceptional distinction, reflecting the magnitude and spirit of the World Peoples Assembly. It embodies a unity that is not transactional, but purposeful and conscious—a unity that shapes new contours for a world that works for all peoples of the world.”
Research and Lasting Impact
The summit will also launch an international interdisciplinary study titled The Zambezi River: Economy, Society, Soul. Researchers will examine the river’s socioeconomic impact on Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique. The project reflects the summit’s vision of connecting economic opportunity, social progress and cultural identity.
Delegates from across Africa and beyond are expected to attend. Organisers hope the inaugural World Public Summit Africa will create a lasting platform for dialogue, inspire new partnerships and strengthen regional and global cooperation.
After the summit ends, organisers will take the “Unity” exhibition to Moscow. The exhibition will promote cultural exchange, strengthen friendship among nations and introduce African artistic excellence to new audiences.
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