with grace and light

Honouring the life and legacy of Koyo Kouoh,
Executive Director and Chief Curator

Zeitz MOCAA remembered and celebrated the extraordinary life and legacy of our beloved Koyo Kouoh at a Memorial on Thursday, 29 May 2025.

Madame Koyo was more than a curator and cultural leader—she was a visionary and a luminary, a force. Her incisive voice, bold imagination and unyielding commitment transformed not only the landscape of contemporary art in Africa but redefined the possibilities of artistic dialogue across borders. Her work transcended museum walls, sparked new conversations and reshaped narratives across Africa and its Diaspora, touching lives far beyond the realm of art.

We took this moment to reflect on her profound impact, to honour the courage with which she challenged convention, and to celebrate the spirit of generosity and justice that defined her work. Koyo believed in art as a tool for connection, a language for truth, and a pathway for collective healing—a belief that continues to inspire us to build, to strive, and to dream together.

Those who wish to honour and pay respects to the remarkable legacy, leadership, and dedication of Koyo Kouoh, may do so at Zeitz MOCAA’s Scheryn Arena on Level 0. 

Guests may also leave messages of condolence and remembrance in the space.

Those unable to visit the museum are welcome to click the link to add a message to the digital tributes.

 Image credit: ©Mirjam Kluka

zeitz mocaa staff tribute

In Loving Memory of Koyo Kouoh and a Life Well Lived

There are some people whose presence changes everything—whose vision, kindness, and leadership ripple far beyond the spaces they occupy. Koyo Kouoh was one of those rare souls. As our Executive Director and Chief Curator, she led with generosity, an uncompromising pursuit  of excellence, and a spirit that inspired everyone fortunate enough to work alongside her. To know Koyo was to be seen, heard, and valued.

Her qualities as a leader and luminary are evident in her achievements and body of work. Yet perhaps the most profound—and least easily defined—was her ability to truly see people. Regardless of role or title, she connected in a way that was both genuine and deeply human. At the core of her ethos was a belief she often shared: “People are more important than things.” It wasn’t just something she said repeatedly—it shaped how she led. Her leadership was grounded in a recognition of each person’s worth. She led with kindness and an unwavering commitment to serving artists and serving one another.

Koyo was generous with her time, her knowledge, and her insight. She inspired the community, and a culture of high standards. She reminded us that the work is not only about what we produce, but about how and why we do it. It’s about creating space, forging new paths, and understanding the urgency of doing so with integrity. For Koyo, setting the bar high was never about elitism—it was accountability: to artists, to audiences, to each other, and to the truth of the work.

She pushed us—always—to be better. Koyo never settled for anything less, she demanded criticality in every aspect of a project and from all those involved—not because she was demanding, but because she believed in our potential—sometimes more than we believed in ourselves. 

Koyo was the driving force behind a new vision for Zeitz MOCAA. She radiated joy and momentum in equal measure. When she walked into a room, everything shifted. Her presence was undeniable and luminous. Her dazzling smile lit up our offices, her laughter echoed through the silos, and her energy was infectious. She made each of us want to show up and participate fully. Despite her competitive streak—especially during games—she knew how to let her hair down and dance, believing that both laughter and  tears were essential to any process.

She had a way of making work feel like a celebration. Whether it was a staff event, a shared meal, or a quick catch-up between meetings, Koyo brought life and humour to it all, reminding us that joy has a place in serious work—and that taking our work seriously doesn’t mean taking ourselves too seriously. She was fierce, fashionable and the very definition of formidable—a woman of elegance and strength who, even in her absence, remains a compass for all of us who knew her.

Her legacy lives beyond any one project or institution. It lives on in the many people who walked part of her journey with her—those she challenged, nurtured, taught, and loved. Her gift for bringing people together and inspiring them to keep going, even when it was difficult or unpopular, is something we hold close.

In Koyo’s words, quoting an African proverb she often returned to: “If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.” 

To that we now respond: Madame, you have instilled in us the importance of going the distance—and of bringing others along. You gave your whole self to the mission of Zeitz MOCAA, to advancing contemporary art from Africa and its Diaspora, and most of all, to each and every one of us. We honour your vision, your unwavering dedication, and your belief in our ability to carry the work forward. Your spirit endures in every act of care, every principle we uphold, and in every path we forge. We are better—for having worked with you, learned from you, and known you. And so are all those whose lives will be touched by what we continue to build in your name.

May we meet again. Until then, continue to be our guide. 
Art angel, art warrior.

We love you and you will remain forever in our hearts, Koyo. 

With grace and light—always.

tributes

Koyo Kouh was more than just an artist — they were a force of nature, a storyteller whose work spoke truth to power and heart to soul. Their passing is not just a loss to those who knew them, but to the world of creativity, resistance, and cultural awakening.

Koyo, your voice and your vision changed the way we see, the way we feel, and the way we fight for what is right. Your legacy will live on in every artist you inspired, every truth you uncovered, and every boundary you shattered.

Rest in Power, Qhawekazi!

Sipho Nuse

Rest in Peace, Koyo Kouoh

The art world has lost a giant, and Africa has lost one of its most powerful voices. Koyo, your brilliance, vision, and unapologetic dedication to African narratives transformed not only institutions, but lives. As Head Curator at Zeitz MOCAA, you redefined what it meant to be a custodian of culture, and you opened doors for so many of us who walk in your footsteps.

Thank you for your courage, your sharp intellect, your fierce love for the continent, and your unwavering commitment to truth and beauty. Your legacy will continue to inspire generations.

Rest in power, Ma Koyo.

Lindra Gqola

Koyo, reposez en paix et en puissance, je n’arrive toujours pas à croire que vous ne soyez plus parmi nous. Vous dont j’ai découvert le travail voilà 4 ans déjà et qui m’avait accompagné dans mon retour sur le continent. Vous qui m’inspiriez chaque jour. Je suis triste de ne pas avoir eu la chance de vous rencontrez, mais tellement pleine de gratitude de savoir que j’ai vécu dans un monde où vous avez existé. Vous m’avez donnez tellement d’espoir et pour ça merci

Aïssata Sabaka

With deep sorrow and immense gratitude, we remember and honour the life and legacy of Koyo Kouoh,a visionary curator, cultural leader, and passionate advocate for the arts,whose impact will resonate for generations. Thank you for nurturing artists, and curators. You had a very soft voice but always spoke with authority. Although Koyo has left this world far too soon, her spirit endures in every artist she championed, every institution she shaped, and every life she touched. Her legacy is not only in the exhibitions and essays she leaves behind but also in the movement she helped ignite, one that continues to strive for justice, dignity, and liberation through art. Thank you for defining Pan-Africanism. Thank you for highlighting that “people are more important than things.” You truly were a remarkable leader. My thoughts are with your family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.

We grieve her loss with heavy hearts and pay tribute to her life with profound respect.

May your soul rest in perfect peace. Your light will not be forgotten.

Nyasha Njovana

It was with great sorrow that we learned of the sudden death of Koyo Kouoh yesterday.

For us, she was a driving force for the creative community in Africa and the diaspora. A determined, strong personality full of ideas and inspiration for the art world. I hope that her ideas for the Venice Art Biennale will still be recognised in some way. It was a great honour to get to know her briefly and to work with her – from the interview I did with her in 2020 for the German ART Magazin, to meeting her at the opening of “Currency” at Hamburg’s Deichtorhallen, to having the chance to participate in her groundbreaking exhibition ‘When we see us’.

In the ART interview she said: „I see my work (at Zeitz Mocaa) not as a position but as a mission.“

We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to her family.

All the best to you all.

Warm regards from Hamburg,

Camilla Péus and family

Her last project will be materialized!!

Nitish Arora

Though I’ve never met her, I knew of her brilliance and fortitude. I had hoped to meet her one day. Sadly that day won’t come. Rest in peace Madame Koyo.

Chann de Villiers

Last year in summer I saw the wonderful Exhibition “When We See Us” in Basel which was curated originally by MOCCA and Koyo Kouoh. It was the first time I heard and read about her work and I would have loved to see her next Venice Bienale Exhibition….

Andreas Langer

It is with shock and dismay we have learned the sad passing of a Pilar of the art world, not only in South Africa but internationally. Dear Koyo you will be missed. Our deepest condolences and heartfelt thoughts go to your family and to your colleagues at the Museum.

Guido Giachetti

May dear Koyo rest in eternal peace

Harald kittmann