Each banner features two photographs of iconic Togolese buildings, ancient and modern, and is weighted down by traditional pottery.

Bringing the pavilion to life with teamwork

The exhibit was commissioned by Sonia Lawson, founding director of Togo’s first arts and culture centre, the Palais de Lomé.  It is as striking as she imagined, but to make her vision a reality demanded expert logistical support.

To safely fly the exhibition pieces from Lomé to Venice, including the 35 handmade clay pots, the AGS Togo team custom-built three wooden crates lined with foam. They then inserted robust lattices of liners and paper, specially made to hold each pot snugly in place.

With guidance from AGS’s dedicated fine-art division, they also completed the exhaustive documentation required to comply with Togolese and Italian regulations. This included preparing a detailed packing list, a pro forma invoice, and a global inventory containing each item’s construction material, weight, age, and provenance.

At the same time, the fine-art division leveraged its international network to select a specialised agent capable of transporting the fragile shipment from Milan airport to the exhibition hall in Venice.

Navigating the last mile

This last leg was highly symbolic, traversing the historic canals of Venice to deliver the exhibit in two of the city’s iconic black gondolas. Although picturesque, this method of delivery presents considerable logistical challenges.

Gondolas have a limited load capacity and require delicate handling – an issue the AGS team overcame with foresight, splitting the exhibit over multiple smaller crates before its journey to Italy.

After a seamless delivery, the Togolese pavilion opened on 10 May and will continue to wow visitors until the Venice Biennale ends on 23 November.

For Sonia, the success of the operation illustrates the Togo team’s skill. “AGS stands out for its specialised expertise in the international transport of works of art, particularly on the African continent,” she said.

Would you like to entrust the transport of your works of art to specialists? Contact AGS for a personalised quote and enjoy tailor-made support for your exceptional moving projects.

A big thank you to our RMC team, to whom we owe this honour. By listening closely to clients and using those insights to finetune our services, they have built reliable customer-focused processes that deliver top-class service.

Aimed at streamlining the country’s immigration procedures and improving service delivery, the initiative highlights the government’s plans to modernise Nigeria’s immigration framework.

What is it, actually?
Stir-fried rice noodles topped with shrimp or tofu, bean sprouts, peanuts, and a tamarind-based sauce. It boasts a complex flavour profile, giving you sweet, sour, salty, and umami flavours, all in one bite!

Why it’s timeless
Pad Thai not only hits every flavour note, but it’s also ready to serve in just 30 minutes. Perfect for a midweek dinner.

AGS insider tip
Don’t skip the tamarind paste, which gives Pad Thai its signature tang. The tamarind tree fruit has a distinct sweet and sour flavour – think lemon crossed with apricot and dates, with a slight molasses-like undertone.

Make Your Own in 30 Minutes

Ingredients

200g rice noodles

150g prawns or chicken strips

2 tbsp tamarind paste

2 tbsp fish sauce

1 tbsp sugar

1 egg

Bean sprouts, peanuts, lime wedges, chilli flakes (for garnish)

Method

Soak noodles in hot water until tender.

Stir-fry protein of choice, push to one side, and scramble the egg.

Add noodles, tamarind, fish sauce, and sugar. Toss together.

Top with bean sprouts, peanuts, and lime. Optionally add chilli flakes if you like a bit of heat.

Try it at home and share your photos or videos with us! We would love to feature your creations.

The EES will record travellers’ entry and departure information, including their biometric information, and replace the current manual process of stamping passports. EES will apply to all non-EU citizens including visa-exempt and visa-required nationals.

The European Commission also announced an updated processing fee related to the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). The updated fee will apply once ETIAS goes into effect, which is expected in the last quarter of 2026.

This month will also see AGS Lorraine/Luxembourg move to new premises in Thionville, just 20 kilometres from the Luxembourg border, making it even easier to deliver top quality services to your customers in the duchy.

Readers can find the full AGS Worldwide Movers Directory here.

An additional Centre, planned for Los Angeles, will bring the total number to 17, improving accessibility for Indian citizens and reflecting their growing presence in the United States. The Indian government is also considering opening two new consulates in Boston and Los Angeles.

Where applicable, the designated company contact person is required to be present for the appointment, but Employment Pass and Professional Visit Pass applicants are not required to attend.

Speaking to the media, AGS General Manager Quentin Schmassmann said, “You are transporting ancient history, there can be no mistakes. You need a team that is trained to international standards, you need the best equipment, and the best staff.

Watch the full story on YouTube.

South Africans are known for being among the friendliest people in the world. In fact, a 2024 survey found that South Africans are among the most agreeable people in the world, exhibiting deep empathy, understanding, and hospitality toward both strangers and loved ones. Below are some of the prominent South African cultures you can expect to encounter while in the Rainbow Nation.

 

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What is Indigenous South African Culture?

Indigenous South African culture is rooted in tribal heritage originating from Xhosa, Zulu, and Sotho tribes. These cultures are present throughout South Africa, displaying a strong focus on family, community, and reverence for both elders and ancestors.

Roots of Indigenous Culture

The earliest inhabitants of South Africa were the Khoisan people, who can trace their lineage back 100,000 years, making them the direct descendants of the earliest humans. This has equipped the Khoisan with a unique genome, distinguishing them from every other group on the planet.

The Khoisan originally consisted of two groups: the Khoekhoe, who specialised in herding livestock, and the San, who specialised in gathering plants and hunting animals. Khoisan people also pioneered tool-making techniques like heat-treating stone and creating spear tips.

Around 400 AD, the Khoisan would be joined by the Bantu people of Eastern and Central Africa, who introduced metallurgy, farming, and adobe construction. These two groups would eventually give rise to the Zulu, Xhosa, and Sotho people as we know them today.

Elements of Indigenous Culture

Every indigenous culture in South Africa has its own unique language, traditions, foods, dances, and beliefs. South Africa has 11 officially recognised languages, nine of which are indigenous languages, and six dialects of Khoisan are considered the original indigenous languages of the region.

• Languages: Indigenous languages include isiZulu, isiXhosa, isiNdebele, siSwati, Sesotho, Setswana, Sepedi, Tshivenda, and Xitsonga. Officially recognised dialects of Khoisan include Khoekhoegowab, !Orakobab, Xirikobab, N|uuki, ǃXunthali, and Khwedam.
• Foods: Popular foods among indigenous cultures include samp and beans, amasi (a sour milk drink), and Morogo (a dark green leaf often called “African Spinach”). Meats (nyama) and traditionally fermented alcohol (umqombothi) are commonly enjoyed in traditional settings, especially weddings, funerals, and tribal meetings.
• Religious Beliefs: Indigenous cultures often practise a blend of Christianity and ancestral worship. This unique combination has created a socio-cultural distinction between those who align with indigenous traditions and other groups in South Africa.

What is Afrikaner Culture?

Afrikaner culture refers to the ethnic and cultural descendants of predominantly Dutch settlers who made the Cape Colony their home. However, many individuals with both German and French heritage also identify as Afrikaners, meaning the majority can trace their lineage back to European origins.

Roots of Afrikaner Culture

Afrikaner culture traces its roots back to Dutch colonialism in the 17th century. Many Afrikaner settlers were traders who set up businesses in the Cape Colony before eventually making it their permanent home. This was a common occurrence, resulting in many new settlers who would later become known as Afrikaners.

Afrikaners developed their own unique language called Afrikaans. While it originally evolved from Dutch, Afrikaans incorporates elements of other European languages like French and German, as well as indigenous languages such as Bantu and Xhosa.

Afrikaners often speak Afrikaans as their first language, English as their second, and sometimes indigenous languages. It is very common for not only Afrikaners, but virtually all South Africans to be multilingual to some degree.

Elements of Afrikaner Culture

Afrikaner culture is typically centred around family, whether it be family outings or having a braai (barbecue) on weekends. Farming, homesteading, and rearing livestock remain an important part of their cultural identity. In recent years, Afrikaans music has also gained nationwide popularity.

• Foods: Afrikaner food culture has a few prominent dishes, including braai (flame-grilled meats), potjiekos (stew cooked in a three-legged cast iron pot over a fire), and a bredie (a lamb stew cooked with vegetables). Snacks like biltong and droëwors are also very popular.
• Religious Beliefs: Afrikaner culture is strongly rooted in Christianity and traditional Christian values.
• Sports: Afrikaner culture is typically associated with sports like rugby and football, with both watching and participating seen as opportunities to connect with friends and family.

What is Cape Malay Culture?

The term “Cape Malay” refers to both an ethnic group and a cultural identity. It’s generally used as a broad term to describe mixed-race individuals residing in the Cape Flats. However, not all individuals of mixed descent subscribe to this culture.

Roots of Cape Malay Culture

Cape Malay culture traces its roots back to enslaved Southeast Asian peoples, particularly from Indonesia, Malaysia, and The Philippines, as well as the Khoisan and European settlers. Many attribute this diverse heritage to the arrival of the Dutch East India Company led by Jan van Riebeeck in Cape Town in 1652.

Cape Malay culture consists primarily of English and Afrikaans, with the latter having a unique dialect within the culture, often mixing the two in what’s known as “Afrikaaps”. This dialect is unique to the Cape Flats and spoken nowhere else in South Africa.

Cape Malay culture is unique because, unlike other South African cultural groups, it incorporates individuals of different ethnicities, races, religions, languages, and traditions. These differences are what solidify the culture, enabling people to draw strength from diversity.

Elements of Cape Malay Culture

Cape Malay people celebrate their identity through foods, traditional celebrations, languages, dialects, dances, music, and so much more.

• Religion: Cape Malay culture is religiously diverse but primarily consists of people who practice Islam and Christianity. There are also individuals who practise Buddhism or identify as agnostic or atheist.
• Food: Cape Malay food is incredibly diverse reflecting its mixed heritage. Popular Cape Malay foods are samosas (triangular-shaped pastry pockets, deep-fried, filled with a savoury spicy meat mixture), Koeksisters (sugary dough balls), breyani (a spicy meat/chicken dish with rice), and the Gatsby (a foot-long sandwich with steak, chicken eggs, lettuce, tomato, spices, and sauces).
• Dance: An extremely important cultural event in Cape Malay heritage is the “Tweede Nuwe Jaar” (Second New Year) parade on January 2nd. Here, the Cape Minstrel Carnival, known as the “Kaapse Klopse”, participate in a vibrant festival featuring thousands of minstrels in colourful costumes, dancing, singing, and playing musical instruments such as the “ghoema” drum, trumpets, and tambourines.

Moving to South Africa? Choose AGS Movers!

Experience South African culture firsthand with AGS Movers! We offer professional moving and relocation services from anywhere across the globe.

Whether you’re moving to Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, or Pretoria, our team of professionals will ensure a stress-free, seamless moving experience for you and your loved ones.

South Africa’s cultural richness is waiting for you. Let AGS Movers help you settle in with ease, so you can focus on embracing your new life. Get in touch with us today and take the first step towards your move.