Cameroonian curator Koyo Kouoh has made history as the first African woman to lead the Venice Biennale, one of the world’s most prestigious contemporary art exhibitions. Kouoh, who has been the executive director and chief curator of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town since 2019, will oversee the Biennale’s next edition in 2026.

Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, president of the Biennale, praised Kouoh as a “curator, scholar, and influential public figure,” noting her ability to bring together dynamic and innovative minds for the 130-year-old event. The exhibition, held every two years in Venice, attracts art enthusiasts from around the globe.

Kouoh described her appointment as a “once-in-a-lifetime honour,” emphasizing her desire to create a show that resonates deeply with the challenges and aspirations of the present and future.

Before her role at Zeitz MOCAA, Kouoh founded the RAW Material Company in Dakar, Senegal, a cultural center focused on contemporary art. Born in Douala, Cameroon, and raised between her homeland and Switzerland, Kouoh has consistently championed Pan-Africanism throughout her career.

She is only the second African to lead the Biennale, following Nigerian art critic Okwui Enwezor, who curated the event in 2015. Her bold programming in Cape Town has highlighted the work of artists from across Africa and its diaspora.

Kouoh’s vision extends beyond geographical boundaries, reflecting her belief in the interconnectedness of global Black cultures. She has described Africa as more than a continent, arguing for a broader understanding of its influence, particularly within the Americas.

Speaking to AFP, she remarked, “I like to talk about Black geographies—where Black culture, Black bodies, and Black people have influences societies.” Her appointment was recommended by Biennale president Buttafuoco, who was supported by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration.