Annabelle Mu’azu has been working as an Independent Curator for 12 years, specialising in the promotion of artists from Africa and the Diaspora.

She graduated with a BA honours in Art and Archaeology from the School of Oriental and African Studies, (SOAS) University of London, in 1992  and went on to work on various projects including the Africa 95 festival. 

In 1996, she moved to Nigeria, West Africa, where she established herself as a Curator, working with artists from Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Zaria, a premier University for art education in Nigeria.  She curated several solo and group exhibitions, amongst them, Kenny in the Recent, an exhibition of the works of Nigerian Sculptor, Adewuyi Kehinde Ken and group exhibitions, Times no Boundaries and Accident and Design at the Maison de France, Lagos. She has also collaborated with cultural organisations, the Alliance Francaise and British Council

In January 2000, she toured and co-curated her first international exhibition, ‘Accident & Design – Gani Odutokun & his Influence’, at the Brunei Gallery, SOAS, London, with internationally recognised artist/curator, Jacob Jari.  The project and the accompanying catalogue explored the life and work of the late influential artist, Gani Odutokun and examined and highlighted the contributions that ABU has made in the development of Modern Nigerian Art.

Her latest project was the acclaimed exhibition and catalogue, ‘Tapping into the Known’, held at Brunei Gallery in April – June 2007.  An exhibition of Poetry, Paintings and Installations by the late eminent Nigerian poet, Christopher Okigbo and his artist daughter, Obiageli Okigbo. With contributions in the catalogue from Nobel Literature Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.

She has also worked as a consultant on Contemporary African Art for the following organisations and companies - The Christopher Okigbo Foundation, Kwangju Biennale, CDT Design, London and Brussels based cultural groups, PAAPA & Mbari Brussels. She has written for several magazine publications including West Africa Magazine and most recently Nka: Journal of Contemporary African Art, an international arts magazine edited and published at Cornell University.

Annabelle Mu’azu decided to establish Cocoa Arts because of her enthusiasm for the contemporary arts and artists from Africa & the Diaspora; a desire to dispel pre-conceived modes of thinking about ‘African Art’ and highlight and convey the wealth of  vibrant artistic creations, from this wonderful Continent and beyond, to more diverse audiences worldwide.