THE Zambia National Visual Arts Council (VAC) has dropped an art exhibition which depicts Africa’s colonial history using penises, after a rift with originator of the art Sithabile Mlotshwa. Mlotshwa’s artwork, which includes 54 penises representing the raping of Africa’s 54 countries by colonial masters, raised eyebrows from conservative members of the community for its “vulgar” nature, and the artist is convinced that negative public sentiments and external pressure on VAC influenced the decision to have the exhibition removed from the Henry Tayali Art Gallery. However, VAC Chairperson Lombe Nsama says the council was forced to drop Mlotshwa’s exhibition after the artist had attempted to exert undue control over the art gallery hosting her work. Nsama has refuted suggestions that...