The 53rd anniversary of Africa Day not only celebrates the founding of the African Union, but also serves as a reminder to Africans of the importance of sharing knowledge about our various cultures.The !Kauru African Contemporary Art Project is part of the celebration of ''being an African" in it s fourth annual art exhibition.Jointly curated by Paula Nascimento of Angola and Raphael Chikukwa of Zimbabwe, the exhibition is titled Being and Becoming: Complexities of the African Identity."It's a continuation of the dialogue from the 2015 exhibition titled Toward Intersections: Negotiating Subjects, Objects and Concepts, curated by Thembinkosi Goniwe", said project co-ordinator Ijeoma Loren Uoche-Okeke.The project started four years ago and was created by Tshepi Mohlala who is also the director. She says its purpose is to create a platform through which African contemporary artists and cultural practitioners can engage around a showcase of contemporary art sourced from the continent and the Diaspora."It also aims to promote conversations in Africa and internationally that change perceptions of the continent through contemporary art," said Mohlala.Asked about how one identifies oneself as African she said: "I believe we share an African identity. It's no longer black or white but various shades of grey. The question that resonates with me is 'what does it mean to be an African in the 21st century?'"This is a layered question - our identities are layered."Born out of the backlash to the xenophobic attacks that happened in 2008 and 2015, !Kauru has, over the years, exhibited over 100 artists from over 20 African countries."The project focuses on the dialogue around social and economic cohesion, transformation and access within the creative sectors in South Africa but also across the continent to strengthen engagement and build sustained relationships with creatives in countries around the continent," she said.Having worked with various artists, Mohlala said the selection of the artists considers the themes that are interrogated from different artistic positions.The exhibition features works by African artists including Yinka Shonibare, Robin Rhode, Ayana V Jackson, Lerato Shadi, Kudzanai Chiurai, Thando Mama, Louis Kakudji, Irineu Destourelles, Yonamine Miguel, Délio Jasse, Nástio Mosquito, Mario Macilau, Helen Zeru, Egnaldo Vilanculo, Edson Chagas, Mudi Yahaya and more.Opens tomorrow running until June 25, Unisa Art Gallery, Pretoria...