Grassi Museum of Ethnology in Leipzig (Germany) kicked off a Congolese art season in December 2018 with the Megalopolis – Voix de Kinshasa exhibition. The exhibition gave a free rein to eight Kinshasa artists, including Chéri Benga, to highlight the reality of urban life in the capital of DR Congo.
From January to March 2019, the masters of Congolese popular art were given pride of place at the heart of the Kinshasa megalopolis under the guidance of Chantal Tombu at the Texaf-Bilembo cultural centre. With the exhibition and publication La peinture populaire en héritage. Hommage de JP Mika aux Bula Matari, JP Mika sought to pay tribute to the leading figures in popular painting, including Chéri Chérin, his mentor, Chéri Benga, Moke, Pierre Bodo, and even Papa Mfumu’Eto 1er.
Two other exhibitions opened their doors in springtime in Europe. Congo Stars at the Tübingen Museum in Germany showcased no fewer than 150 artworks by 70 Congolese artists, including Chéri Chérin and Chéri Benga. Finally, the Musée des arts d’Afrique et d’Asie in Vichy in France celebrated the dynamism of DR Congo contemporary art with Congo Paintings at which the work of numerous Congolese artists, notably in the popular style, was on show until the end of October.