England rugby star Maro Itoje is showcasing untold Black history through an art exhibition
Published 21st May 2021
Written by Rachel Wood, CNNLondon
As Covid-19 lockdown restrictions ease in the UK, a new art exhibition in London is shining a light on lesser-known aspects of Black history.
Celebrating everything from South African jazz to a 20,000-year-old mathematical artifact, A History Untold aims to showcase Africa s diverse contribution to world history.
The exhibition is presented by England rugby player Maro Itoje whose love of African art was formed by regular trips to Nigeria, the country of his parents birth. Itoje grew up in London but has always felt a strong connection to his Nigerian ancestry.
Two artists showing in separate exhibitions inside one gallery and at the same period is a rare format in Nigeria. This much, Oladele Ogbeyemi and Bright Ibiok, in separate exhibitions, are set to achieve
Next month, England rugby star Maro Itoje dips his toes into the art world for the first time, presenting a group exhibition at Signature African Art gallery in London. ‘A History Untold’ (20 May–19 June) features work by six artists from Africa and the African diaspora – and is intended, Itoje has said, ‘to underline the importance of including more black history on the British national curriculum […], breaking down biases that currently exist’. Taking a break from training, Itoje tells Apollo how he became involved in the exhibition and how he balances his interests in art and politics with professional sport – and why he didn’t become a painter.