At an art festival in Dakar, artists from both sides of the Atlantic examine the legacy of slavery

A whirlwind of color and art at the opening of this year's Dakar Biennale of Contemporary African Art in the Senegalese capital stood in stark contrast to the serious topic of slavery featuring in the artworks of guest artists from the United States.

- Monika Pronczuk and Mark Banchereau

The U.S. exhibit showcases seven African American artists whose works examine the past, present, and future repercussions of slavery. It's part of the international festival held every other year and is known as Dak'Art.

Traditional "boubous," wide-sleeved robes worn across West Africa, mixed with black suits and ties at the opening Thursday in Dakar, the capital of Senegal.

The exhibition, founded in 1989 by the Senegalese government to promote the continent's thriving art scene, has, over the years, become one of the most important among African artists.

This year's theme, "The Wake," has 58 artists from 33 countries exploring various meanings and evocations of the term, such as exhumation, mourning, and uprooting, according to the organizers.