By Deborah Enwerem
Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie attended the opening of “Statues Also Breathe,” an exhibition at the Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL) in Marrakech, Morocco, in tribute to the Chibok schoolgirls who remain missing.
According to posts and photos shared on social media by African Folder, the actress and other global personalities attended the opening to further amplify the call for the release of the remaining girls.
Chibok survivors, including Rahab Ibrahim and Margaret Yama, alongside family members, also traveled to Marrakesh to take part in the event.
The exhibition, which premiered earlier in Lagos, is on view in Marrakech till the end the year, and is expected to continue touring before finding a permanent home in an African museum.
Created by French artist Prune Nourry in collaboration with Nigerian musician and activist Ade Bantu, the exhibition features 108 clay sculptures inspired by the famous Ife bronze heads.
The project began when families of the Chibok girls entrusted photographs of their daughters to Nourry who sculpted initial clay heads, which were cast by women potters using traditional Ile-Ife clay.
According to the organisers, the exhibition seeks to preserve the memories of the girls, amplify the voices of their families and encourage continued global conversations on justice, remembrance and human rights.
Jolie’s visit to the exhibition has further drawn international attention to the project, with many describing it as a powerful reminder that the plight of the Chibok girls remains relevant more than a decade after the mass abduction.
The exhibition also showcases Nigeria’s rich artistic heritage by incorporating the distinctive style of ancient Ife sculptures, widely regarded as some of Africa’s finest examples of classical art.
Art and cultural observers say the collaboration demonstrates how creative expression can transcend borders, using Nigerian history and heritage to engage global audiences on issues of social justice.
They noted that the exhibition reinforces the growing influence of Nigerian art and culture on the international stage, while celebrating the country’s enduring contribution to global conversations through creativity.
The Chibok schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents on April 14, 2014, in one of Nigeria’s most widely reported security incidents, sparking the global #BringBackOurGirls campaign.
Although many of the girls have since regained their freedom, some are still unaccounted for, making the exhibition both a tribute and a call for continued remembrance.
