Afrikanizm | Tapa Donatien – Contemporary Cameroonian Artist Identity

"I want to give a visual identity about the reconnection to African traditions in relation to modernity, which is a subject less understood and evoked by young people in our locality. I want to question the subject of cultural identity as it is perceived today."

MEET

Tapa Donatien

Tapa Donatien (b. 1997, West Region, Cameroon) is a contemporary visual artist based in Nkongsamba, Cameroon. His multidisciplinary practice—rooted in painting, sculpture, drawing, installation, and video art—centres around themes of metamorphosis, collective identity, and the cultural tensions between African tradition and Western modernity.

A graduate in Plastic Arts and Art History from the Institute of Fine Arts at the University of Douala, Donatien's artistic journey began in childhood through self-initiated workshops and early training during secondary school. His work is a visual exploration of reconnection to African heritage, interrogating the erosion and adaptation of cultural practices over time.

Deeply inspired by artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kehinde Wiley, and Ousmane Sow, Donatien constructs layered narratives that investigate the shifting realities of African identity in the face of globalisation. His dynamic compositions often blend abstract and figurative elements, reflecting internal and collective transformations.

He has participated in several residencies, workshops, and group exhibitions, including Effervescence at Aka Gallery (Douala), Young Hopefuls at the Free Academy of Fine Arts (Douala), The Night of Ideas at Bandjoun Station, and multiple shows with doual’art, such as Abstraction and Art 2020. He was also a finalist multiple times for the Goethe-Institut Discovery Prize, one of the region’s most prestigious art recognitions.

Currently, Donatien continues to evolve his practice by experimenting with new media, while maintaining a sharp focus on Africa’s visual storytelling traditions and their relevance in contemporary discourse.

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