‘Portrait Sammy Baloji’

Bozar presents three events celebrating multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker Sammy Baloji. Since 2005, he has explored the history and memory of the Democratic Republic of Congo, focusing on the legacy of Belgian colonization, especially in the Katanga region. His work spans visual art, cinema, architecture, and music, examining how cultural stereotypes shape collective memory.

From May 16 to 31, Sammy Baloji will present his film The Tree of Authenticity, addressing ecological damage from Belgian colonization. On June 5, he will participate in Sofa Session #5: Triumph and Emancipation alongside Marie Umuhoza, as part of the Nocturne of June, Bozar all over the P(a)lace. On June 30, to mark the 65th anniversary of Congo’s independence, Baloji will present Staging The Concert: Le Père Sauvage, an immersive concert experience blending music, images, and words, to rethink and reconnect different territories and histories across the pre- and post-colonial eras.

Sammy Baloji (b. 1978, Lubumbashi, DRC) is a visual artist and photographer based in Lubumbashi and Brussels. Initially studying computer science, he later turned to photography and video. His work explores the cultural, architectural, and industrial heritage of the Katanga region, as well as the impact of Belgian colonization. Recent exhibitions include K(C)ongo (2022) and Beaux-Arts de Paris (2021). His films include Tales of the Copper Crosses Garden (2018) and The Tree of Authenticity (2025). Baloji co-founded the Rencontres Picha/Biennale de Lubumbashi in 2008 and is currently pursuing a PhD at Sint Lucas Antwerpen.