Art Brings New Life to Luanda's Forgotten Hotel
Half a century ago, it was a standout, but the city's oil wealth and modern hotel scene had left it behind.
It’s hard to imagine the Globo Hotel in downtown Luanda as a hub of activity.
With its broken windows and crumbling walls, this once-hip modernist landmark seemed destined to be just another forgotten piece of history.
Half a century ago, it was a standout, but the city's oil wealth and modern hotel scene had left it behind.
Yet, the Globo has undergone an incredible transformation, proving that true value isn't always found in glass towers.
Today, it’s not tourists filling the suites, but artists. They’ve turned the derelict rooms into vibrant studios, galleries, and performance spaces.
As Ngoi Salucombo of the Goethe Institute notes, it has become one of the most important places to find the new generation of Angolan artists.
This rebirth began a decade ago with an audacious, underground art event—a powerful act of cultural expression in a city still recovering from years of conflict.
Now, almost every corner pulses with creativity, filled with books, canvases, and traditional, colourful rodilhas.
The Globo didn't just transform itself;
it ignited a spark that is spreading across Luanda, reaching neighborhoods like Cazenga, where community programs like Anim’art are bringing essential after-school arts education to young people.
This story is a powerful reminder that culture and community can breathe new life into forgotten spaces, making a city more vibrant and accessible than wealth alone ever could.
What role has art played in transforming a city or neighborhood you know?
#Luanda #Angola#AfricanArt#UrbanRenewal #CreativeEconomy
