The Zeitz MOCAA Gala Collateral Programme 2025, hosted by Zeitz MOCAA Executive Director and Chief Curator Koyo Kouoh, unfolds as a celebration of women’s often understated contributions to the art world. This four-day journey from Thursday, 20 February to Sunday, 23 February is open to all Gala attendees on a first-come-first-served basis and promises an immersive exploration of South Africa’s vibrant art ecosystem. With an ethos of curiosity, joy, and hospitality, the programme offers studio and gallery visits, curator-led tours, and thought-provoking discussions, all set against Cape Town’s spectacular backdrop.
The programme highlights the interconnectedness of South Africa’s art ecosystem, acknowledging its strengths, challenges, and unique historical context. South Africa’s art world thrives on a complex interplay between tradition and innovation, shaped by its diverse cultural heritage and the resilience of its people. At the same time, it grapples with structural inequities and the lingering effects of colonialism and apartheid, which continue to influence access, representation, and narratives within the arts. Cape Town, as a microcosm of these dynamics, is a city of contrasts—vibrant and cosmopolitan yet deeply tied to its historical legacies. Its cultural fabric reflects both a legacy of segregation and an enduring spirit of hope, tolerance, and transformation.
By weaving together narratives of triumph and challenge, the Gala Collateral Programme invites participants to explore the nuances of South Africa’s cultural landscape while engaging with pressing issues of equity and inclusion. Central to this year’s focus is the role of women—artists, curators, and cultural practitioners—whose contributions have been pivotal in shaping the South African art ecosystem, often without receiving the recognition they deserve.
The programme’s structure embraces both critical inquiry and moments of joy, inviting participants to engage with the systems, histories, and narratives that shape the dynamism of the South African art landscape, thus challenging them to envision new ways of thinking and collaborating. From curator-led walkthroughs at Zeitz MOCAA and beyond to roundtable discussions, the experience is designed to foster meaningful exchanges. These moments are interspersed with communal meals, and refuelling stations prepared by local women chefs, infusing the programme with warmth and a sense of belonging.
At its core, the Gala Collateral Programme embodies a collective effort. The museum’s largely women-led team, along with its collaborators and supporters, ensures the programme resonates with authenticity and generosity. Their contributions underscore the importance of alliance in creating a holistic cultural experience. A key collaborator is Cape Town-based curator, art advisor, and consultant, Hamzeh Alfarahneh, whose programming of the Gala Collateral Programme 2025 ensures a blend of cultural immersion with moments of critical reflection and challenges participants to envision new ways of thinking and collaborating.
“This year’s itinerary bridges the cultural pulse of Cape Town and the broader Western Cape, extending from its dynamic galleries to the Stellenbosch Triennale and the Investec Cape Town Art Fair. Anchored by the principle of intentionality, the programme crafts a tapestry of engagements that range from the intimate to the expansive, creating opportunities for discovery and connection,” says Alfarahneh.
The Zeitz MOCAA Gala 2025, taking place on Friday, 21 February, is the museum’s annual fundraiser and draws a global, regional and local audience of patrons, philanthropists, practitioners, collectors and cultural luminaries. The Gala is crucial in advancing the institution’s mission to exhibit, collect, preserve and research contemporary art from Africa and its Diaspora. Proceeds from the Gala directly benefit the museum’s curatorial and education programming, enabling the institution to conceive and host international exhibitions; develop supporting educational, discursive and enrichment programmes; encourage intercultural understanding; and ensure access for all.
The Gala evening begins with a red-carpet welcome and a private reception while enjoying a chilled glass of Hazendal MCC in the museum’s Atrium. Guests will be treated to an evening of exclusive performances by Thandiswa Mazwai, one of South Africa’s most influential contemporary singers since the start of her career in 1996 with music groups Jack Knife and Bongo Maffin, before venturing onto a solo career after six award-winning albums with Bongo Maffin.
A key moment in the evening is the presentation of the Zeitz MOCAA Honorary Award for Artistic Excellence to Otobong Nkanga in recognition of the indelible impression she has forged on the contemporary art landscape in Africa and the Diaspora.
Our master of ceremonies for the evening is once again the impeccable Jo-Ann Strauss, Zeitz MOCAA Global Council member, entrepreneur, and one of South Africa’s most respected media personalities. Guests will then enjoy an exceptionally curated gastronomic experience at Zeitz MOCAA’s level 6 restaurant, Ocular Lounge.
The Gala Collateral Programme includes an evening of unparalleled sophistication and vibrant energy for Gala patrons and invited guests at the Don Julio Afterparty on Saturday, 22 February. This exclusive event is a recreation of the iconic Club 1942, offering an unforgettable fusion of art, fashion, and nightlife, perfectly tied together by the legendary Don Julio 1942. The Don Julio Afterparty will see Zeitz MOCAA’s cathedral-like Atrium Bowl transformed into a haven of rhythm, connection, and energy. Attendees will experience the very essence of the Don Julio 1942 nightlife, set against the stunning backdrop of one of Africa's most celebrated cultural landmarks.
We look forward to welcoming our international visitors and local supporters to the Zeitz MOCAA Gala and Collateral Programme 2025, a much-anticipated event on the Cape Town art calendar and a celebration of the artistic excellence the continent and its vast Diaspora offers.
The Zeitz MOCAA Gala Collateral Programme 2025 is made possible through the generous support of BMW South Africa, The Young Presidents’ Organisation (YPO), Africology, 21 Nettleton, The Silo Hotel, Hazendal Wines, Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with another, and Studio H with special thanks to Hamzeh Alfarahneh for the programming of the Gala Collateral Programme 2025, as well as Southern Guild, Liz Biden, Norval Foundation, Pumla Maswanganyi, Goodman Gallery, and Liza Essers. The Zeitz MOCAA Gala 2025 is proudly supported by BMW South Africa, Don Julio, Hazendal Wines, YourLuxury Africa, The Aleit Group, and Africology.
