Em’kal Eyongakpa (b. 1981, Mamfe) is an artist whose work draws from a range of sources including indigenous knowledge systems, ethnobotany, applied mycology and technology. He is also known for his involvement in self-organised community research spaces, such as KHaL!SHRINE in Yaoundée (2007-2012) and the research platform/ Boh- Bɛtok/ ɛfukuyu.

As organisations with international reach and distinct profile within a national context, the partnership between IMMA and EVA seeks to raise the horizon of opportunity for the commission and production of ambitious large-scale artworks in Ireland, with a focus on thinking beyond the ‘exhibitionary’ encounter of contemporary art.

To date, IMMA has hosted research residencies for EVA’s international curators Bassam El Baroni (2014), Koyo Kouoh (2016) and Inti Guerrero (2018) and Merve Elveren (2020). Affiliated programming from 2014 – 2018 has included projects and events with Nástio Mosquito, David Horvitz, Praneet Soi, The Rubber Bandits, Tracey Rose, Sam Keogh, John Rainey and the satellite exhibition THE 38TH EVA INTERNATIONAL AT IMMA featuring the work of Locky Morris, Roy Dib and Marlon T.Riggs.

Annie Fletcher, Director, IMMA, previously curated EVA International 2012 – After the Future, while in her role as Chief Curator at Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven.

When experiencing Mámbáy bebhɛp 43t / besáŋ berat / bakay nɛkɔ the audience encounters the following contributors:  

Bɔ́ Bɛtɔk Gulf of Guinea – cross rivers station; Eyum/ Eyɔŋ project: South East Nigeria/ South West Cameroon’s creative’s tent; Ojoga – an art hub based in Ogoja, Cross Rivers State Nigeria serving creatives from the Adagom 1 refugee settlements; Community heads in the Adagom 1 refugee settlements Ogoja, South East Nigeria; recorded participants displaced from the historical Southern Cameroons following the ongoing conflict in the restive English speaking Northwest and Southwest regions of The Cameroons (identities remain anonymous until the resolution of the conflict); Ceara Conway; Sandra Joyce; Noirin Lynch; Micheal Marrinan; Róisín Ní Ghallóglaigh; John Tunney; and Caimin Walsh.