Today, the Zeitz MOCAA is closed in mourning following the sudden death of its Chief Curator and Executive Director, Koyo Kouoh.
Known as a powerful voice for change in the global art world, Kouoh made history late last year when she was announced as the first Black woman to curate the Venice Biennale, set to open in 2026. Her appointment marked a major milestone, not only for the Biennale but for Africa’s place in the international art conversation.
Kouoh passed away unexpectedly on Friday 10 May, at the age of 57. Born in Cameroon and raised in Switzerland, she was the founder of RAW Material Company in Dakar, Senegal, and a respected figure in the art world for decades. Her curatorial work often foregrounded African perspectives, centring voices that had long been sidelined in major institutions.
Since joining Zeitz MOCAA in 2019, she helped transform the museum’s programming into something truly pan-African and globally relevant. Her leadership and clarity of vision made her a force to be reckoned with, and her loss is already being deeply felt across Cape Town and far beyond.
She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy and a void that will not be easily filled.
