Zeitz MOCAA Hosts Fifth Annual Gala, Honors Industry Figures and Announces Residency Renaming

The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa held its fifth annual fundraising gala on February 20, 2026, in Cape Town during the city's Art Week. Approximately 200 international artists, patrons, and supporters attended the event, which serves as a crucial funding source for the museum's exhibitions, educational initiatives, and preservation efforts focused on contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. The evening featured the presentation of three Zeitz MOCAA Honorary Awards: Abdoulaye Konaté received the Artistic Excellence award for his significant contributions to African contemporary art; Dr Anita Blanchard and Martin Nesbitt were recognized with the Philanthropic Achievement award for their global arts patronage; and Justice Albie Sachs was honored with the Visionary Award for his lifelong advocacy of justice and artistic expression. The gala also paid tribute to the late curator Koyo Kouoh, who led the institution from 2019 until her passing, with the announcement that the museum's Atelier Artist Residency Programme would be renamed the Koyo Kouoh Atelier. Museum co-founder David Green explained this renaming honors Kouoh's dedication to providing opportunities for African and diasporic artists. The event highlighted several educational initiatives, including the MOCAA on the Move mobile classroom project introduced by Liesl Hartman of the BMW Centre for Art Education, and the Zeitz MOCAA & University of the Western Cape Museum Fellowship Programme discussed by Senior Curator Dr Greer Valley. Looking forward, co-founder Jochen Zeitz noted the museum's upcoming tenth anniversary in 2027, emphasizing plans to strengthen institutional foundations, expand reach, and ensure long-term sustainability through continued community support. The gala received sponsorship from multiple organizations including BMW South Africa, Hazendal Wine Estate, and Condé Nast.