Lost In Translation

1 - 9 April, 2023
Satellite, Alserkal Avenue
Dubai, United Arab Emirates


Highlighting the impact of language on culture, identity, and the challenges of translation, this installation features a curated selection of books and public programmes that explore the richness and diversity of African literature. The programmes were conversations with Kwame Mintah (co-founder of Efie Gallery) tracing the evolution of contemporary music in West Africa from Highlife to modern Afrobeats; and Professor Binyam Sisay Mendisu (Director of the department of languages and translation, The Africa Institute) analyzing the dynamic nature of various indegenous languages and how transliteration of said languages informs the development of literature across the continent.


Lost in Translation was developed as part of Alserkal Avenue’s Ramadan program, ‘Stay a Little Longer