Richard Mudariki

by Richard Mudariki We Are Closed: Image from the Irma Stern Museum website I have been following the closure of the Irma Stern Museum in Cape Town with a growing sense of unease. The official statement promises “new life” for the collection and the home, but the public reaction - from shock to suspicion - tells a deeper story about trust, transparency, and the fragility of cultural stewardship in South Africa. Media reports have captured this moment well. The Weekend Argus broke the news of...

by Richard Mudariki Crime scene at the Musee Du Lourve (Image: Belga News Agency) When I first heard of the brazen theft at the Louvre, the daylight break-in at the gallery housing France’s crown jewels, it struck me not simply as a spectacular “art theft” but as an act of cultural terrorism. On 19 October 2025, thieves disguised as construction workers used scaffolding to access the Galerie d’Apollon, smashed the glass cases, and stole eight priceless pieces - including jewels from the...

by Richard Mudariki African richest man Aliko Dangote gifts Zimbabwean President a painting by Nigerian artist Akeem Adeleke at a $1 billion investment deal at State House in Harare, 12 Nov 2025 (image: Ministry of Information X (Twitter) post*) At the landmark signing ceremony between the Government of Zimbabwe and the Dangote Group - led by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote - I was struck by an unexpected cultural gesture that stood out amid the billion-dollar investment announcements....