Musée du Quai Branly.
Musée du Quai Branly.
Image: Supplied

90 000 

The number of artefacts France looted from Africa. Musée du Quai Branly holds over two-thirds of them. 

200 000

The size of the permanent collection of African art and material culture housed in the British Museum’s Sainsbury African Galleries. It is the largest such collection in the world. Only 600 objects are on display. 

90-95 

The percentage of Africa’s heritage held outside the continent, according to a 2018 report commissioned by French President Emmanuel Macron. 

9 

The number of storeys at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa. It is the largest museum of contemporary African art in the world.

The Zeitz MOCAA.
The Zeitz MOCAA.
Image: Supplied

1.2m 

The amount in pounds for which Ben Enwonwu’s Tutu was sold at auction at Bonhams. It had a presale estimate of £300 000. His bronze Atlas sold for £378 000, setting a new record for a sculpture in its first appearance at auction. 

5 000 

The price in rands people are willing to pay for a pair of Karabo Poppy’s Nike Air Force 1 Low By You sneakers on the secondary market. The collection was released in 2019 for R2 299.95 and quickly sold out. After appearing on NBA star LeBron James they soon reached cult status. 

35 

The percentage of total gallery sales made online by established galleries, up from 5% in 2019. This percentage ranges up to 65% for emerging galleries. 

15 and 200 

The number of elephants and mules it took to cart away the historical objects from Emperor Tewodros’ Ethiopian capital, Maqdala, in a raid by the British in 1868. 

27 

The age of Chris Soal, the youngest artist yet to collaborate with Dior on its Lady Dior range, and the youngest artist to have a sculpture at Nirox Sculpture Park. 

1.491 

The amount in ethereum that Norman O’Flynn’s GIF Da Bomb fetched. WORLDART in Cape Town was the first art gallery in South Africa to go to market with an NFT artwork. 

1 

The percentage of global art market value that the African art market represents in its entirety, according to the European Fine Art Foundation. This is despite African artists being responsible for more than 20% of the work offered in global auction houses. 

 From the September edition of Wanted, 2021.

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