Moridja Kitenge Banza
Once Upon a Time, Malaika
Touring

Through an immersive installation combining monumental sculpture, video, and imaginary artifacts, Moridja Kitenge Banza offers kids ages 6 to 12 an artistic reflection on public monuments, museums, and collective memory, while questioning dominant narratives and how they are passed on. The exhibition is accompanied by ready-to-use educational activities developed in connection with the themes explored by the artist.

Young visitors experience the exhibition through the eyes of Malaika Premiere, a princess and heroine who travels through time to meet her ancestors and learn more about the history of her people. Following in her footsteps, children journey through places marked by the legacy of colonization in Africa and the Caribbean, the transatlantic slave trade, and the exploitation of natural resources. A monument erected in her honor celebrates her adventure, while objects that once belonged to her rest beneath the glass of an imaginary museum—raising questions about how Western institutions preserve and display artifacts taken through colonial plunder. Moving between reality and fiction, present-day statues and witnesses of the past, Moridja Kitenge Banza invites young audiences to actively reflect on how history is told and passed on to them.

Main themes

— Narratives of colonization – remembered and forgotten
— The role of monuments in public space
— Mapping and territory
— The power of fiction and imagination to question real-world issues

Specification sheet

Space requirements: 1,000 sq. ft. (90 m²)
Available starting January 2026

Exhibition components

— 1 video installation – single-channel or three-channel
— Floor covering (artificial grass)
— 1 sculpture on a pedestal
— Museum-style display boxes
— 1 fabric print

Educational Material

In collaboration with the artist, VOX has developed educational workshops for elementary school groups and families visiting independently. Hosting venues are provided with tools and training to support their mediation teams.
— Ready-to-use guided tour scenario and educational workshop
— Mediation tools for group visits
— Video interview with the artist