Senegalese Artist Zulu Mbaye Returns to Barbados to Celebrate Africa-Caribbean Cultural Ties at CARIFESTA XV

The sounds and the energy of Caribbean festivities carry a familiarity that resonates with Senegalese painter and President of the Village of Arts, Zulu Mbaye. Returning to Barbados for his second time, on this occasion to participate in CARIFESTA XV, he stated “I am so happy to be back. Being surrounded by the culture, all I see are echoes of home.”

Mbaye first visited the island alongside Senegal’s former president, during which some of his works were installed in The State House. This year’s return for him feels like a continuation of that moment, deepening ties between Africa and the Caribbean. He said “when I walk here, I don’t feel far from Senegal,” noting the rhythm, colour and warmth that both cultures share.

His journey in art began more than five decades ago, in the 1970s, when he attended Professor Pierre Lods’ open workshops. What started as exploration soon became vocation. By the end of that decade, he was creating tapestry models for the Senegalese Manufacturers of Decorative Arts of Thies while also participating in national salons. His work quickly gained recognition, and in the late 1980s he served as president of the National Association of Artists of Senegal, helping to shape the country’s cultural landscape.

Exhibitions carried his vision far beyond Dakar. From Buenos Aires to Baltimore, Mbaye’s paintings have spoken of roots, rhythm and resilience, placing Senegalese contemporary art firmly on the global map. He also became one of the pioneering exhibitors at the first Dakar Biennial in 1992, marking a new chapter in West Africa’s engagement with the world art scene.

Yet for Mbaye, visibility and acclaim are not ends in themselves. His language is one of connection and protection. He speaks of art as a chronicle of culture, a way to protect and preserve traditions, and a channel of inspiration for younger generations. In his view, the artist’s mission extends beyond canvas or tapestry. Rather, it is about enabling others to see themselves and their heritage reflected in creativity.

Mor Faye Murf – Painter and President of the Association of Art Education and Environment; Ms. Carol Roberts – CEO of the National Cultural Foundation; and Zulu Mbaye – Painter and President of the Village of Arts.

That vision is what fuels his excitement at CARIFESTA XV. Mbaye describes the Caribbean as alive with African energy. He sees no disconnection, only continuity. The same patterns of movement, the same brilliance of colour, the same pulse of music link Dakar to Bridgetown. “It is the same root,” he said simply, “expressed in different places.”

This year, his presence is not only personal but representative. As a cultural leader and mentor, Mbaye seeks to open doors for other Senegalese artists to collaborate with Barbados and the wider Caribbean, ensuring that exchanges like CARIFESTA XV provide opportunities for growth and collaboration. He knows how vital it is for artists to be given platforms, support and visibility; and his own career, which stretches across continents and decades, is a testament to what can be achieved when space is made for creativity to flourish.

He also acknowledges the importance of institutions in sustaining this kind of exchange. Governments and cultural organizations, he insisted, “must create the conditions for artists to thrive. Creativity is not a luxury but a protective responsibility. It shapes how communities understand themselves and how nations connect with each other.”

As Barbados and Senegal meet in this festival of culture, Mbaye sees more than an event. He sees history weaving itself forward, with art as the thread. For him, CARIFESTA is proof that the ties between Africa and the Caribbean are not imagined but lived, not distant but present in every note of music, the lively colours and even in the brushstrokes of art.

On this second visit, Mbaye carries with him both pride and gratitude. Pride in representing Senegal’s visual arts at an international stage, and gratitude for the chance to do so in a place that feels like a mirror of home. He is especially thankful to the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) and CEO Carol Roberts-Reifer for extending the invitation and making this moment of exchange possible. (PR)