REWA, a globally acclaimed Nigerian visual artist, will be responsible for creating the poster that announces the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2025, themed ““The Secrets of Africa”. This makes her the first African woman to undertake such a role and the seventh woman overall to design this iconic emblem of Carnival, joining the ranks of Marina Braun (1979), Maribel Nazco (1994), Elena Lecuona (1996), Guenda Herrera (2002), Karina Beltrán (2006), and Elena González (2011).
José Manuel Bermúdez, the mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, emphasised the significance of the Carnival poster, stating that “it serves as the introduction to the world for our most internationally recognised festival and signals the commencement of the numerous events that constitute our Carnival.”
According to Javier Caraballero, the town councillor responsible for festivals, “REWA is the perfect artist to authentically represent the cultural legacy of our neighbouring continent, as much of her work, in addition to honouring women, seeks to elevate African culture.”
The artist, who recently won the esteemed Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Awards, among other accolades, has showcased her work at fairs, museums, and galleries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. She has collaborated with artists such as Usher on his video “Ruin” and partnered with renowned brands like Unilever and Nike in initiatives such as the Vaseline Showcase at the Essence 2019 Festival and Nike’s “Don’t Change Your Dream, Change the World” campaign during the 2019 Women’s World Cup.
Throughout her artistic journey, she has participated in notable art fairs such as Art Miami, Art Expo Chicago, Art Market San Francisco, and Art Dubai, demonstrating the strength and resilience of the African community, with a particular focus on women. Her first solo institutional exhibition, which was inaugurated last month at the Africa Center in London, was attended by prominent members of the Otu Odu society.
For REWA, being chosen as the designer of the poster for “one of the finest carnivals in the world represents a pivotal moment in my career.” She further expressed, “It is a tremendous honour to be involved in such an exceptionally special event.”
With REWA at the helm, the Santa Cruz Carnival is reinstating the prestigious signature poster that has contributed greatly to the festival’s heritage value, now alternating it with public competitions aimed at enhancing quality and external visibility. Caraballero remarked, “This approach ensures we maintain the ideal equilibrium while continuing to include great names like César Manrique, Mel Ramos, and Jiří ‘Georg’ Dokoupil, without overshadowing the emerging talents from the islands renowned for their excellent Carnival designs.”
The poster will be unveiled on 18th October at 7:30 p.m. in Plaza de España, during a celebratory event that will initiate the carnival, attended by REWA herself.
