As one of the artists who embarked on the transformative road trip to Dakar with the Molue Mobile Museum of Contemporary Art (MMMoCA) in 2016, I had the privilege of participating in a unique and collaborative artistic endeavor that spanned three weeks and crossed borders, connecting diverse communities and creatives along the way.
MMMoCA, spearheaded by Emeka Udemba, Director, Project Space Lagos, redefines the concept of a museum through its innovative approach—a mobile contemporary art museum housed within a vintage Mercedes-Benz 911 engine truck. This visionary initiative challenges the traditional Eurocentric museum model, reimagining it within the rich tapestry of the African environment and experience.
Our journey commenced on April 24, 2016, from Lagos, Nigeria, traversing approximately 4,000 kilometers to the Dak’art biennial in Senegal. The road trip was not just a physical journey but a creative odyssey, providing a platform for experimentation, collaboration, and engagement with the public as we made stopovers in various locations.
During our stops at the ‘Opera Village’ in Laongo near Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, the Goethe Institut in Ghana, and communities in Mali and Senegal, we conducted workshops, presentations, and discussions, sharing our artistic practices and exchanging ideas with local communities. These interactions enriched our creative process, fostering a deeper understanding of the diverse spaces and experiences we encountered.
The MMMoCA road trip was a melting pot of artistic convergence, where boundaries dissolved, and connections were forged. Through workshops, our experiences and reflections were shared with the public, sparking dialogues and fostering a sense of unity and creativity across borders.
This immersive journey was not just a physical voyage but a testament to the power of art in bridging communities, fostering collaboration, and redefining the boundaries of traditional museum spaces.
It was a transformative experience that continues to inspire and shape my artistic practice to this day.
