Renowned British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare CBE has unveiled his latest exhibition, “Safiotra Hybridities,” in Antananarivo, Madagascar, marking his first major presentation in the island nation. The show opens April 11 at Fondation H, one of Madagascar’s leading contemporary art spaces, and delves into the intricate layers of identity, post-colonial legacy, and cultural hybridity. Shonibare, internationally acclaimed for his exploration of colonial history and race through the use of Dutch wax fabric, centers this exhibition on the concept of “safiotra,” a Malagasy term meaning mixed or hybrid, often used in conversations around ancestry and identity in Madagascar. The word encapsulates the nation’s complex social fabric—a blend of African, Asian, and European influences shaped by centuries of trade, migration, and colonialism.
Among the standout installations is a life-sized astronaut sculpture, dressed in brightly colored wax fabric and carrying traditional Malagasy artifacts, including the valiha, a bamboo tube zither that is central to Malagasy music and heritage. The piece symbolizes cultural fusion and challenges viewers to rethink identity beyond rigid boundaries of nation or ethnicity. The exhibition highlights Shonibare’s signature use of wax print textiles—a material that itself is a historical hybrid. Though often associated with African identity, the fabric has Dutch colonial origins and was inspired by Indonesian batik. Shonibare uses it to question ideas of authenticity, cultural ownership, and globalization.
In connection with the exhibit, Fondation H has curated a two-day program of public events. These include a roundtable discussion on evolving identity, a slam poetry performance by celebrated Malagasy artist Orad, and “Beyond Borders,” a multidisciplinary show directed by Harivola Rakotondrasoa, blending dance, narrative, and visual art. “Safiotra” arrives at a time of growing debate in Madagascar over ethnicity, inclusion, and national memory. By staging this exhibition, Shonibare and Fondation H aim to spark dialogue around cultural fluidity, migration, and the shifting meaning of identity in a post-colonial context. The exhibition runs through July 2025, and is expected to draw attention from both local audiences and the international art world.
