At the Musée de l’Homme in Paris, until 7 September 2025, the exhibition Wax: fashion and culture explores the fabric wax, renowned as a potent symbol of African identity. Set within the Musée’s Migrations season, the show weaves together anthropology, economic history, contemporary art, design and fashion to trace the fabric’s origins in Indonesian batik, its industrialisation in Europe, and its creative reinvention in West Africa. The exhibition highlights the pivotal role of the Nanas Benz, Togolese businesswomen who dominated the wax trade in the 1960s, turning it into an instrument of economic empowerment and cultural assertion. Over one hundred fabrics, garments, accessories, photographs and installations by artists like Thandiwe Muriu and Omar Victor Diop illustrate how wax transcends borders to become a medium for individual and collective expression. The exhibition is structured in two parts: a historical section detailing the colonial and technical transitions from batik to wax, and a contemporary section focusing on the fabric’s current use in fashion, design and art. In doing so, the show not only highlights the aesthetic and symbolic power of wax but also prompts reflection on the relationship between tradition, globalization and cultural identity.
