Duvangu is a residency for artistic production and cultural programming, located in the historic site of the former French Embassy in Libreville, Gabon. This initiative was launched by the French Embassy in Gabon and São Tomé and Príncipe and by the Institut Français du Gabon, in association with the Gabonese Ministry of Culture,Youth, Sports and the Arts. The residency is supported by Manifesto and driven by a local team of culture professionals: JTC Consulting, Touch Innovative, and the commercial agency Zoé.

Duvangu offers:
- A residency for artistic production and cultural programming in Libreville in 2024
- The participation of Gabonese artists in the São Tomé and Príncipe Biennial in 2024
- An artistic residency in France for five Gabonese artists in 2025

Unprecedented in its location and scope, Duvangu brings together artists and creators from Gabon and São Tomé and Príncipe, but also Central Africa and France, inviting them to take over the former French Embassy in Gabon. Functioning as a true ‘embassy of the arts’, the residency aims to foster experimentation, production, and interactions between local artists and the European scene, particularly in France. All participants will receive curatorial and technical support to help them develop their practice.

Over the course of two months, from May to July 2024, around thirty emerging visual and performing artists will have the opportunity to refine their craft in the Duvangu studios. They will showcase their creations to the public in freely accessible exhibition spaces, through on-site and off-site cultural events: studio visits during open days, exhibitions, concerts, shows, lectures, performances, workshops, screenings with discussions, etc.

Selecting the resident artists

A jury of culture professionals convened to select 30 artists from Gabon and beyond. The jury was made up of Nadine HOUNKPATIN, jury president, curator, consultant in
artistic and cultural projects, and teacher; Yannis DAVY GUIBINGA, photographer and artist; Sara DOLATABADI, visual and video artist; Luc Michel NZE ANGARA, director of Visual Arts at the Gabonese Ministry of Culture and the Arts; João Carlos SILVA, artist, entrepreneur and founder of the CACAU cultural center, São Tomé and Príncipe, along with Olavo AMADO, artist.

Residents artists
Angélique de Chabot (France)
Diane Chéry (France)
Aurélie Djiena (Cameroun)
Doff (Tchad)
Fabiana Ex-Souza (France)
Faye Formisano (France)
Jérôme Gelès (France)
Rodrigo Gukwikila (RDC)
Antalya Jaël (RDC)
Godelive Kasangati Kabeba (RDC)
Monsieur Kierno (Gabon)
Emmanuelle Late (Gabon)
Malanda Loumouamou (Gabon)
Kaory Mambo (Gabon)
Anna Mapoubi (France)
Mexhilus Ymc (Gabon)
Maya Mihindou (Gabon / France)
Moukadi (Gabon)
Julie Mvie (Gabon)
Catarina Neto (S. T.-and-P.)
Zabissa Elie Ndouma (Gabon)
Vanessa Tess Odongui-Bonnard (Gabon)
Orassio (Gabon)
Dario Pequeno Paraiso (S. T.-and-P.)
Claire de Pimodan (France)
Marc Posso (France)
Emerson Quinda (S. T.-and-P.)
Pamina Sebastião (Angola)
Florian Viel (France)

Artistic Director
Marilou Thiébault