Tributes Pour in for Renowned Cameroonian Curator, Koyo Kouoh, Who Died at 57

Tributes have been pouring in from across the world for world-renowned Cameroonian-born curator, Koyo Kouoh, who died Saturday, May 10, at the age of 57.

Before she died in Switzerland, where had citizenship, Koyo was the director and chief curator of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town, South Africa.

It is Africa’s largest museum of contemporary African art.

Upon learning about Koyo Kouoh’s demise, Zeitz MOCAA temporarily paused its operations to pay tribute to the talented artist.

“Out of respect, Zeitz MOCAA will close its doors today, and all programming will be suspended until further notice. Our thoughts are with Koyo’s family at this time,” the museum said in a message on its Facebook page.

Koyo was appointed to lead Zeitz in 2019. As an advocate for African creatives, she has been able to play a vital role in shaping arts on the continent.

Reacting to her death, the French Embassy in Senegal described her as a great lady of contemporary art.

“We admire her commitment to Senegal, where she founded the Raw Material Company and played a leading role in the creation of the Partcours,” the Embassy said.

It added that her commitments in Senegal and elsewhere on the continent contributed greatly to contemporary art in Africa but much more broadly to the world of art and thought.

Koyo ‘Brought Honour to African Women’

In Cameroon, where she was born but partially raised in Switzerland, officials have also offered their tributes.

One of them is opposition politician, Maurice Kamto. According to him, Koyo’s outstanding talent brought honour to African women and to Cameroon.

“I wish I met this Cameroonian by birth and Swiss by adoption to talk about the prospects that my vision of culture opens up for Cameroon and our continent.” Kamto wrote.

“Her career confirms that talent is universal and that Cameroon is one of her chosen lands.”

Loss for the International Arts Community

Among the arts museums that have paid tribute to Koyo is Goodman Gallery based in Basel, Switzerland.

The museum’s management said they were saddened to learn of Koyo’s passing.

“Together with both the South African and global art communities, we mark the loss of a curatorial leader whose vision shaped global dialogues,” they wrote.

To Berlin-based Savvy Contemporary museum, the tragic loss of Koyo, whom it described as “a pioneering figure and a big source of inspiration to many”, leaves an incommensurable gap.

“Koyo Kouoh was an early and fundamental supporter of SAVVY Contemporary and remained a crucial mentor until today. She will stay with us forever!”

Who is Koyo Kouoh?

She was born in 1967 in Cameroon and grew up in the country’s largest city, Douala, before moving to Switzerland at 13.

She studied finance and banking but returned to Africa in the 1990s and settled in Dakar, Senegal.

She taught herself Curatory.
While in Senegal, she founded the RAW Material Company in Dakar in 2008—a centre dedicated to art, knowledge, and society.

In 2019, she was appointed Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town, South Africa, the continent’s largest museum of contemporary African art.

She would later step onto a global stage, securing an outstanding position in 2024 as the curator of the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, scheduled for 2026.

According to reports, Kouoh is known for speaking uncomfortable truths as she challenges tokenism — the shallow inclusion of African artists just to tick a box — and instead demands real representation, power and space. 

Media reports hold that her exhibitions often touched on colonialism, identity, race and social justice.

She saw art as a tool to question power — not just to decorate walls.

Kouoh’s work, we learned, was driven by a deep commitment to decolonising the art world, giving space to African artists to tell their stories on their own terms, not through Western filters.

While many say she was a truly great lady, others believe her legacy will continues to inspire artists and curators worldwide.