Sindika Dokolo

Sindika Dokolo

Sindika Dokolo was a Congolese art collector and businessman. He owned one of the most important contemporary African art collections. He died on 29 October 2020, in a sea accident in the city of Dubai, at the age of 48.

About Sindika Dokolo in brief

Summary Sindika DokoloSindika Dokolo was a Congolese art collector and businessman. He owned one of the most important contemporary African art collections, which includes more than 3,000 pieces. He died on 29 October 2020, in a sea accident in the city of Dubai, at the age of 48. As of 2020, he and his wife were under investigation for obtaining their wealth by corrupt means, allegations which they denied. He started expositions like the SD Observatorio at the Valencia Institute of Modern Art, the Trienal de Luanda, or the Check List Luanda Pop at the 52nd Venice Biennale. He was awarded the Medal of Merit by the City of Oporto, with regard to the contemporary art exhibition Love Me, You Love Me. In January 2016, the SindikaDokolo Foundation achieved the largest exhibition of its existing African art collection ever, bringing together fifty artists and works from the collector’s collection.

The exhibition features the works of 50 artists from around the world, including Lupita Nyong’o, Keziah Jones, Alek Wek, and the model Alek. Wek said that Sindika’s work shows that African art should be accessible to African and impact their lives. He said that his connection to the arts is not intended to be recognized as a great collector, but rather ‘to present African artists to the world’. In March 2015, Sindika was named the Man of the Year for his work promoting contemporary art in Angola.