During Frieze week, London became a showcase for high-end African creativity: the continent's leading contemporary art fair took over Somerset House, and the world's largest diamond company chose Botswana artisans to tell its story. Behind the scenes, De Beers' shareholding is at stake.
1-54: a fourteenth London edition, with a spotlight on modernists
From 15 to 18 October, the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair took over Somerset House for its fourteenth consecutive London edition. New this year: a focus on modernist artists from Africa and its diaspora, with the exhibition "West Wind", curated by Nancy Dantas. It includes works by Ibrahim El-Salahi and Uzo Egonu, among others.
A large installation also filled the main courtyard, the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court. For collectors and luxury houses alike, the fair remains the place to gauge the standing of the African art scene.
The Art Newspaper: modernists brought into the mix · Wallpaper: the fair guide · Somerset House
De Beers puts Botswana artisans centre stage at Frieze Masters
From 14 to 18 October, De Beers returned to Frieze Masters with an immersive installation created with Botswana artisans. The message is clear: a diamond's story is no longer told only through its clarity, but through its origin and the hands that work it.
For jewellery brands, this is a long-term trend: traceability and local roots are becoming selling points in their own right, in Europe as well as in African markets.
Retail Jeweller: De Beers at Frieze Masters
De Beers' future is being negotiated with Botswana
According to Bloomberg, on 13 October Botswana was close to an agreement on the size of its stake in De Beers with the Global Diamond Consortium, the group seen since July as the frontrunner to buy the diamond company from Anglo American. As the group's leading diamond producer, the country wants a greater say in the value created from its stones.
Bloomberg: Botswana nears agreement
Our take
Art, jewellery, raw materials: the value of African luxury is increasingly created on the continent itself, from the workshop to the shareholder register. Brands that want to sell there gain from being present, even temporarily. Let's talk about your project.