As Cape Town Art Week reaches its peak, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) hosts its most anticipated evening of the year. On 20 February, the Zeitz MOCAA Gala convenes art patrons, collectors, philanthropists, and cultural leaders from South Africa and abroad for a night of creativity, while directly supporting the future of contemporary African art.
Set against the museum’s monumental concrete silos and the luminous presence of Table Mountain, the Gala has become synonymous with cultural significance and civic pride.
Both a social highlight and a vital fundraising platform, it reinforces Zeitz MOCAA’s role as a living, accessible institution amplifying African and diasporic voices on a global stage.
A Headline Performance
At the heart is award-winning singer, songwriter, and performer Zoë Modiga, who takes centre stage as the Gala’s exclusive headline act.
Known for her genre-defying sound – moving effortlessly between jazz, soul, African rhythms, and experimental performance – Zoë has carved out a distinctive space in contemporary music. Her work is deeply emotive, rooted in storytelling that explores heritage, spirituality, womanhood, and modern African identity.
Her appearance at the Gala follows a period of significant creative momentum.
The release of her acclaimed third studio album, Nomthandazo, marked a mature and resonant chapter in her career, while her recognition as a Spotify EQUAL Africa ambassador and her 2025 honour as Most Stylish Performing Artist in Music at the SA Style Awards underscore both her artistic influence and cultural presence.
Her performance is set to be immersive and commanding, setting the emotional tone for the evening.
An Evening at Zeitz MOCAA
The experience unfolds as a carefully choreographed journey through the museum.
Guests arrive via a glamorous red carpet before gathering in the soaring Atrium for a Hazendal MCC reception. A bespoke multi-course dining experience follows, framed by the dramatic verticality of the silos. Here, the architecture itself becomes part of the narrative, reinforcing the ambition and permanence of the institution’s vision.
A defining moment in the programme is the presentation of the Zeitz MOCAA Honorary Awards.
This year’s recipients – Abdoulaye Konaté, Dr Anita Blanchard, Martin Nesbitt and Justice Albie Sachs – are recognised for their enduring contributions to art, leadership, justice, and cultural advocacy.
The evening is guided by Emmy Award–winning storyteller and producer Thando Dlomo, supported by a distinguished Gala Host Committee. Fashion designer Thebe Magugu curates the styling of the hosts, adding a refined Afro-modernist sensibility to the occasion.
Beyond the Gala itself, the event anchors a three-day cultural programme from 20 to 22 February.
Curated studio visits, gallery tours, and intimate conversations offer guests deeper insight into South Africa’s vibrant art ecosystem during Cape Town Art Week, extending the spirit of the evening beyond the museum walls.
Patronage in Action
Ultimately, the Zeitz MOCAA Gala is an act of collective patronage.
Funds raised support the museum’s exhibitions, education initiatives, and artist-focused research, while sustaining projects such as MOCAA on the Move – an art classroom on wheels designed to reach communities beyond traditional cultural spaces.
By attending or sponsoring the Gala, patrons invest not only in an extraordinary night, but in the future visibility, accessibility, and global impact of contemporary African and diasporic art.
