La Traversée: Inside a Contemporary African Art Crossing in Marrakech

In the heart of Marrakech’s medina, where movement is constant and histories overlap, La Traversée unfolds as a quiet yet powerful meditation on passage, memory, and belonging. Presented at DADA Marrakech, the contemporary art exhibition brings together artists from Mali, West Africa, and the African diaspora, exploring what it means to move — across geographies, cultures, and inner landscapes.

Curated by Yiiri Creative as part of the Suntomoon Festival’s Marrakech edition, La Traversée positions art as a site of encounter: between past and present, between the intimate and the collective. Through photography, painting, installation, performance, and video, the exhibition invites viewers to reflect on identity, transmission, and the shared imaginaries that bind African worlds beyond borders.

What is La Traversée about, and how did the exhibition come into being?

La Traversée was born from a desire to open a dialogue between artists from Mali and Morocco. For me, it was important to create a space where conversations around identity, ideas, memory, and culture could naturally emerge.

Choosing to present the exhibition during the Africa Cup of Nations felt essential. The CAN brings people together from all over the world, and this moment allowed the dialogue to extend even further — to include our brothers and sisters from across the African continent and its diaspora. This is where my curatorial inspiration comes from: creating crossings between people, stories, and shared experiences.

La Traversée was conceived as a dialogue between identities, memories, and cultures across borders.

Can you tell us about DADA as a space, and why it was important to present La Traversée there?

DADA is one of the most important contemporary cultural spaces in Marrakech. It is a hybrid complex that brings together traditional and modern cuisine alongside some of the city’s most inspiring artistic experiences.

Its contemporary architecture makes it an ideal space for artistic expression. Presenting La Traversée there was the result of a strong partnership with Le 18 Marrakech, a cultural space located in the medina. Together, these spaces offered the perfect environment for a collective exhibition rooted in dialogue, exchange, and contemporary African creativity.

3. Cultural Context

For someone who has never been to Mali, how would you describe the country, its people, and its cultural spirit?

Mali is one of the most authentic countries in Africa. It is incredibly rich in culture, and its people are welcoming, warm, and joyful. Culturally, the country is very diverse, yet there is a strong sense of harmony between its different communities.

This diversity is not something that separates people — it is something that brings them together.

How would you describe the current artistic scene in Mali, and what is your vision for its future?

The Malian artistic scene is extremely diverse. You’ll find Western influences, African influences, and our own local codes coexisting. It is a very hybrid scene, constantly evolving.

My vision for the future is to create spaces where Malian and African artists can create, dialogue, and exchange with the world; spaces where their work can be seen, valued, and consumed globally, while they remain rooted at home, in Africa.

My vision is for African artists to engage with the world while remaining rooted at home.”

What is Yiiri Creative, and what inspired its creation?

Yiiri Creative is the platform through which I develop and present my curatorial work and creative projects. It was created as a space to support contemporary African creation, encourage dialogue, and build bridges between artists, cultures, and audiences across borders.

Where can people follow your work or learn more about your projects?

You can follow my projects and creative work through the Yiiri Creative platform, or directly on my social media: @Spiko_warrior. The Exhibition is on at DADA Marakech from 26 December to 17 January 2026.

With La Traversée, the act of crossing becomes both a personal and collective gesture; one shaped by memory, movement, and shared cultural resonance. Situated in Marrakech yet rooted in broader African narratives, the exhibition reminds us that art is not fixed to place, but carried through people, histories, and encounters.

In creating space for dialogue between Mali, Morocco, and the wider diaspora, La Traversée affirms the value of art as a living exchange — one that continues long after the crossing itself.

With La Traversée, the act of crossing becomes both a personal and collective gesture. One shaped by memory, movement, and shared cultural resonance. Situated in Marrakech yet rooted in broader African narratives, the exhibition reminds us that art is not fixed to place, but carried through people, histories, and encounters.

In creating space for dialogue between Mali, Morocco, and the wider diaspora, La Traversée affirms the value of art as a living exchange. One that continues long after the crossing itself.