AFRICA 95
AFRICA 95, registered charity number 1039039, was a UK-based cultural education nonprofit focused on advancing public understanding of African arts. Established in the mid-1990s, it gained prominence through its flagship 1995 initiative, which engaged over 60 UK arts institutions in multidisciplinary programming, including visual arts, music, literature, and public debates[1].

Mission and Activities

The organisation aimed to elevate global appreciation for African artistic heritage, with a focus on framing African art within its own historical and aesthetic contexts rather than through ethnographic lenses[1]. Its programming during the 1995 festival marked a turning point in how African art was perceived in Britain, shifting toward recognition as a distinct art-historical tradition[1].

Legacy and Successors

The impact of AFRICA 95 inspired Africa 05, a larger-scale initiative directed by Gus Casely-Hayford. Held a decade later, Africa 05 involved 150+ institutions, including the BBC, and aimed to foster long-term shifts in public engagement with African art[1]. Though distinct, AFRICA 95’s emphasis on cultural education and institutional collaboration influenced subsequent projects dedicated to African creative expression.

Legal Structure

A separate entity named AFRICA 95 (company number 02813337) operates as a private limited company under guarantee, registered in 1993. While sharing a name, its activities (listed as cultural education) appear distinct from the charity’s scope[4]. The charity’s current status remains unclear; records indicate its charitable objectives but do not detail post-1995 operations[2][3].

Note on Name Association

The domain caineprize.com references The Caine Prize for African Writing, which temporarily shared a company registration (02813337) with AFRICA 95 under the name “THE CAINE PRIZE FOR AFRICAN WRITING” in 2015–2016[4]. No direct link exists between the charity (1039039) and the literary prize beyond this administrative overlap.

This article synthesizes available public records and does not represent current operational details.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa95 [2] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/constituency-search/-/charity-details/1039039 [3] https://ngoexplorer.org/charity/1039039 [4] https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02813337 [5] https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02813337/more