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The Art of Welcome - Akwaaba at the African Cup of Nations

Yay Abe and Maxime Manga faced a mammoth task: to create an installation capturing Côte d'Ivoire's essence during the opening ceremony of the African Cup of Nations. Commissioned by Bakuza, the project was a celebration of unity through the beautiful game. The challenge was to weave the rich traditions of the tournament with a forward-looking vision, making the nation's cultural heartbeat tangible and immersive.

n January 2024, the work of two TDF artists took centre stage at the opening ceremony of The African Cup of Nations – the continent’s biggest football festival – infusing the biennial sporting event with a sprinkling of cultural storytelling.

Bringing the essence of AFCON to life in front of a global audience in Ivory Coast, Yay Abe and Maxime Manga honoured the host country’s customs in the creation of a ceremonial carpet. TDF’s largest canvas to date, it was characterised by deep colours, strong lines and cultural motifs.