Carnival, Congo, and Cimarrón: ADAMA’s new exhibition links Atlanta to Panama’s diaspora traditions

The African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta showcases works from Taller Portobelo and beyond, spanning three decades of Carnival-inspired art

On a humid Sunday afternoon, I walked into the African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta (ADAMA) as the gallery was in mid-transformation. Canvases leaned against fresh white walls. A cluster of painted “Congo swords” waited in a corner like sentries. Arts advisor and curator Tosha Grantham guided the placement of works that span three decades and two continents. Nearby, Terra Coles, ADAMA’s gallery manager, moved tools and bubble-wrapped frames through the space. It felt like rehearsal—an inhale before the first drumbeat.