This startup is building the digital infrastructure to preserve and monetise Africa’s fine art
Atsur is building the digital infrastructure that allows African artworks to be tracked, authenticated, and traded securely.
<br />
For decades, African fine art has struggled with a quiet but costly problem: once an artwork is sold for the first time, its journey often ends there. Ownership records disappear, authenticity becomes harder to verify, and resale opportunities dry up.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Unlike Western art markets, where paintings by the likes of Picasso or Basquiat are resold for decades, steadily appreciating in value, African artworks frequently fade into private collections with little historical trace.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Atsur, founded in 2024 by Adaobi Orajiaku and Emediong Umoh, is positioning itself as the technology backbone to change that narrative. By combining verification systems, data research, and blockchain-backed record keeping, the startup is building an infrastructure that allows African artworks to be tracked, authenticated, and traded securely over time, enabling art to function not just as culture but as a long-term asset.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
What Atsur does <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
At its core, Atsur is a technology platform designed to preserve African art history while enabling a functional secondary market for fine art.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
“The mission is to preserve Africa’s art legacy,” Adaobi Orajiaku, co-founder of Atsur, says. “It’s putting our creative players in the fine arts industry at the forefront of the market. Our main problem is that we don’t have enough visibility into our records, and we can use technology to solve that.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The startup verifies artworks and tracks their ownership lifecycle. Each verified piece is issued a certificate of authenticity, with detailed records of the artist, the original sale, and every subsequent transfer of ownership. This creates a permanent provenance trail, which is a critical component for trust, valuation, and resale in mature art markets.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Beyond individual artworks, Atsur also works with collectors and institutions to audit existing collections. The company researches older pieces, connects ownership histories, evaluates current market value, and ensures the right documentation is in place for insuran...
