The University of Fort Hare and Dumile Feni’s Historic Exhibition in Spain
The University of Fort Hare (UFH) has recently made headlines with the announcement of a groundbreaking exhibition featuring one of South Africa’s most significant artworks. This exhibition will take place at the renowned Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid, showcasing Dumile Feni’s powerful piece, African Guernica (1967). This event marks a pivotal moment for both the artist and the university, as it highlights the importance of South African art on the global stage.
A Cultural Repository: NAHECS
At the heart of this exhibition is the National Heritage and Cultural Studies Centre (NAHECS) at UFH. This archival institution serves as a crucial repository for South African liberation history, black contemporary art, and various historical collections. NAHECS plays a vital role in preserving the narratives of struggle and resilience that define South Africa’s past, making it an essential part of the country’s cultural landscape.
The Exhibition: History Doesn’t Repeat Itself, It Does Rhyme
The exhibition, titled History Doesn’t Repeat Itself, It Does Rhyme: Dumile Feni – African Guernica, will run from March 25 to September 22, 2026. Curated by Tamar Garb, it places Feni’s searing masterpiece in dialogue with Pablo Picasso’s iconic Guernica (1937). This juxtaposition invites viewers to explore the thematic connections between two monumental works of art, both of which serve as poignant critiques of war and oppression.
The Significance of African Guernica
While African Guernica has been exhibited extensively within South Africa, this will be its first showing abroad. Feni’s work is often regarded as one of the most important pieces to emerge from the country, transforming the violence of apartheid into a universal visual language that speaks to human suffering, resistance, and memory. The exhibition provides a rare opportunity to witness both artworks together, prompting reflection on their convergences as anti-war and anti-totalitarian manifestos.
The Artistic Dialogue: Feni and Picasso
Although there was no direct personal relationship between Feni and Picasso, the exhibition highlights a powerful conceptual dialogue between the two artists. Picasso’s Guernica is celebrated as one of the most significant anti-war artworks in history, created in response to the bombing of the Basque town during the Spanish Civil War. Feni’s African Guernica, created three decades later, translates Picasso’s visual language of protest into an African context marked by state violence and institutionalized racial oppression.
The Visual Language of Protest
Feni’s African Guernica is a charcoal and ink drawing that confronts the violence, anguish, and dehumanization experienced during apartheid. Rather than merely imitating Picasso, Feni re-inscribes modern art’s protest language within the specific realities of South Africa’s liberation struggle. The Black body becomes the central site of suffering, memory, and resistance, affirming the universality of human pain while remaining deeply rooted in the brutal history of apartheid.
Dumile Feni: A Brief Biography
Born on May 21, 1942, in Worcester, Western Cape, Dumile Feni emerged as one of South Africa’s most gifted and distinctive artists. His work is characterized by emotional intensity, technical mastery, and a haunting humanity that resonates with viewers. Feni often depicted the human figure in states of vulnerability and anguish, giving visual form to the violence and psychic burden of apartheid.
In 1968, amid increasing political repression, Feni left South Africa and lived in exile for over two decades, working in the United Kingdom, the United States, and elsewhere. He returned briefly to South Africa in 1991 after the unbanning of liberation movements but tragically passed away later that year in New York on October 16, leaving behind a profound artistic legacy.
The Global Cultural Significance
For the University of Fort Hare, this exhibition not only affirms the global cultural significance of its art collection but also highlights its broader role in preserving and advancing African intellectual and artistic heritage. The showcasing of African Guernica in Spain serves as a testament to the enduring impact of Feni’s work and the importance of South African narratives in the global art discourse.
Through this exhibition, UFH continues to play a vital role in the preservation and promotion of African art, ensuring that the stories of struggle, resilience, and creativity are shared with the world.
