Afro-Swiss Spotlight: Koyo Kouoh
Meet Koyo Kouoh, a visionary curator, cultural producer, and educator, widely recognised for her transformative work in contemporary African art and her leadership within major international art institutions.
Born in Douala, Cameroon, in 1967, Koyo moved to Zurich, Switzerland, at the age of thirteen. Her educational journey took her through business administration and banking studies in Switzerland, followed by cultural management training in France. Fluent in French, German, English, and Italian, Koyo’s diverse linguistic and cultural background has deeply informed her curatorial perspective.
In 1994, she co-edited Töchter Afrikas, the German-language edition inspired by Margaret Busby's Daughters of Africa, amplifying the voices of women from the African diaspora. This project was an early indication of her commitment to centering African narratives.
Koyo’s curatorial journey led her to Dakar, Senegal, where she established the RAW Material Company in 2008. This dynamic center for art, knowledge, and society became a hub for critical thinking, exhibitions, and artist residencies, fostering dialogue between African and international artists.
In 2019, Koyo was appointed Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town, South Africa. Her tenure has been marked by groundbreaking exhibitions, including Tracey Rose: Shooting Down Babylon and When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting, both of which have been praised for their bold exploration of identity and history.
Koyo’s influence spans across continents. She curated Body Talk: Feminism, Sexuality and the Body in the Works of Six African Women Artists at Wiels in Brussels (2015) and led the 37th EVA International in Limerick, Ireland (2016). In 2020, she received the Grand Prix Meret Oppenheim, one of Switzerland’s most prestigious honors in the arts, celebrating her contributions to contemporary culture.
In a historic achievement, Koyo was named Artistic Director for the 2026 Venice Biennale, making her the first African descent woman to curate this globally renowned exhibition.
We at Afro Swiss Families celebrate Koyo Kouoh’s contributions to the arts and her unwavering commitment to showcasing African perspectives on the world stage. Koyo Kouoh’s dedication to elevating contemporary African art continues to shape the global art scene, inspiring new generations of artists and curators around the world.
