The Hague youth celebrate Black Queens in African Expo
July 2025, article
African Expo, which will be on shown at Amare for the first time this year, is an annual component of The Hage African Festival, organized by Stichting Nteasee. This edition focuses on the theme Black Queens - Women Driving Change. From 7 to 18 July, young people from neighborhoods across The Hague will showcase the power and influence of black women from Africa and the diaspora on the Kunstenplein.
The African Festival has been a fixture on the calendar of international festivals in the Netherlands since 1986. The Hague African Festival shows the Africa of today, with world-class music, rich African cultures and new developments. With both tradition and innovation you will experience the African way of life. In collaboration with Stichting Topaze, The Hague African Festival offers young people from various neighborhoods in The Hague the opportunity to explore stories and translate them into visual art for an integral part of the festival programme: the African Expo.
This year's theme of the African Expo, Black Queens - Women Driving Change, highlights the influence of both historical and contemporary figures such as Yaa Asantewaa, Nina Simone and Michelle Obama and more. With their art and stories, they inspire, motivate and connect diverse communities.
During six workshops of one and a half hours each, young people from various backgrounds are guided by professional visual artists and educational specialists in creating their own works of art. The participants choose which women they want to represent and in which art form: paintings, sculptures or collages. Research into the history and significance of these women is an essential part of the process. In this way, the young people are not only given the space to be creative, but also to delve into themes such as heritage, identity and social change. This helps them develop both creative and cultural awareness. The resulting artworks will be on view in the exhibition on the Kunstenplein from 7 to 18 July at Amare and in the Atrium The Hague.
What's on at Amare this month? Check out amare.nl/kunst for all exhibitions.
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