May 12, 2025 | AfroRadar.com

The global art community is reeling from the sudden loss of Koyo Kouoh, the visionary Cameroonian-Swiss curator whose transformative work elevated African contemporary art to new heights. Kouoh, who passed away on May 10, 2025, in Basel, Switzerland, at the age of 57, was a towering figure in the art world, celebrated for her intellectual rigor, passion, and unwavering commitment to amplifying African voices. Her death, attributed to a recently diagnosed cancer, comes just months after her historic appointment as the first African woman to curate the 2026 Venice Biennale, a milestone that underscored her profound influence.

Born in Douala, Cameroon, in 1967, Kouoh’s journey was one of resilience and reinvention. Raised in Cameroon before moving to Zurich, Switzerland, at age 13, she initially studied banking and business administration. However, frustrated by anti-Black racism in Europe, she returned to Africa in 1996, settling in Dakar, Senegal, where she found her calling in the vibrant art scene. There, she founded RAW Material Company in 2008, a groundbreaking art center that became a beacon for contemporary African art, fostering exhibitions, residencies, and critical discourse.

Kouoh’s impact extended far beyond Dakar. In 2019, she took the helm of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town, South Africa, during a period of institutional crisis. Under her leadership, the museum emerged as a global platform for African artists, with landmark exhibitions like When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting (2022), which showcased 156 artists from Africa and its diaspora and is currently on view in Brussels. Her curatorial approach, which emphasized solo retrospectives and Pan-African narratives, redefined how African art is perceived, challenging Western-centric frameworks and celebrating Black self-expression.

“Koyo was not just a curator; she was an institution builder,” said Oluremi C. Onabanjo, associate curator of photography at the Museum of Modern Art. “She enlivened a sense of possibility for a generation of African curators across the globe.” Kouoh’s global reach was evident in her contributions to prestigious events like Documenta (2007, 2012), EVA International (2016), and the Carnegie International (2018), as well as her role in shaping the 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair’s educational program.

Her appointment to curate the 2026 Venice Biennale, announced in December 2024, was a historic moment. As the second African-born curator to lead the world’s most prestigious art exhibition, following Okwui Enwezor in 2015, Kouoh was poised to bring her bold vision to a global stage. She was set to unveil the exhibition’s title and theme on May 20, 2025, a presentation now shrouded in uncertainty following her passing. The Biennale’s organizers expressed their grief, stating, “Her passing leaves an immense void in the world of contemporary art and in the international community of artists, curators, and scholars who had the privilege of knowing and admiring her extraordinary human and intellectual commitment.”

Kouoh’s legacy is also deeply personal. A mother of four—having given birth to one son and adopted three other children—she spoke of her transformative experiences in Switzerland and her spiritual beliefs rooted in African ancestral traditions. In a recent Financial Times interview, she reflected, “I do believe in life after death, because I come from an ancestral Black education where we believe in parallel lives and realities… I believe in energies—living or dead—and in cosmic strength.” Her love for Dakar remained unwavering, a city she credited with shaping her professional identity. “Dakar made me who I am today,” she said.

Tributes have poured in from across the globe. South African artist Candice Breitz called Kouoh “magnificently intelligent, endlessly energetic, and formidably elegant,” while Nigerian artist Otobong Nkanga described her as a source of “warmth, generosity, and brilliance.” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni noted that her death “leaves a void in the world of contemporary art.” On X, users expressed shock and sorrow, with one post stating, “A visionary curator, cultural leader, and unwavering advocate for contemporary African art. Her legacy reshaped the global art world.”

As the art world mourns, Kouoh’s contributions endure through the institutions she built, the artists she championed, and the narratives she reshaped. Zeitz MOCAA has announced a temporary closure out of respect, and the future of the 2026 Venice Biennale remains uncertain. Yet, as Kouoh herself believed, her energy will continue to resonate, inspiring generations to come.

Rest in power, Koyo Kouoh.

AfroRadar.com is dedicated to celebrating African excellence and amplifying stories that shape the continent’s cultural landscape. For more follow us on X @AfroRadar.

Burkina Faso’s military government announced on April 21 that it successfully prevented a “major plot” to overthrow Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s administration. The alleged coup attempt, reportedly scheduled for April 16, adds another layer of complexity to the nation’s ongoing struggles with extremist violence and political instability.

The Alleged Conspiracy

Security Minister Mahamadou Sana claims the plot involved both active and former military personnel working alongside “terrorist leaders.” According to government statements, conspirators planned to attack the presidential palace in Ouagadougou with the goal of creating nationwide chaos. The junta alleges plotters attempted to recruit religious and traditional figures to convince military officers to join their cause.

The government has pointed to neighboring Ivory Coast as the base for this operation, further straining already tense relations between the two nations. Captain Traoré, who himself seized power in September 2022, has repeatedly accused Ivorian authorities of sheltering his opponents. However, no substantial evidence supporting these allegations has been presented publicly.

Security Response

Approximately twelve military personnel, including two officers, were detained last week in connection with the alleged plot. These arrests follow a pattern of the junta detaining dozens of military figures over the past year on similar charges of conspiracy against “republican institutions,” suggesting persistent tensions within the armed forces.

Details remain limited regarding the identities of those arrested and specific elements of their alleged plan. Critics question whether the junta might be exaggerating threats to strengthen its grip on power, noting the lack of transparency surrounding these announcements.

Broader Context

Burkina Faso faces severe security challenges, with jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State controlling approximately 40% of national territory. The insurgency has caused thousands of deaths and displaced over 2 million citizens.

The current junta under Traoré came to power after overthrowing Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, who had himself seized control earlier in 2022. Last June, Traoré extended military rule by five years, citing ongoing security concerns.

This marks the second coup attempt the junta claims to have foiled in recent months, following similar announcements in September 2024 that also implicated Ivory Coast without providing concrete evidence.

Regional Dynamics

Since taking power, Traoré has pivoted away from France, expelling French forces in 2023 while strengthening ties with Russia. Burkina Faso has withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) alongside Mali and Niger, forming the Alliance of Sahel States as a defense pact.

The accusations against Ivory Coast highlight deteriorating regional relationships. As a prominent ECOWAS member, Ivory Coast represents the growing divide between pro-Western regional powers and the military governments of the Sahel.

Looking Forward

The thwarted coup attempt highlights Burkina Faso’s precarious political landscape. With significant territory beyond government control and divisions within the military, the junta faces substantial challenges maintaining stability. Its accusations against neighboring countries risk further isolation, while alignment with Russia may intensify tensions with Western nations.

Without addressing the fundamental causes of insecurity and political discontent, Burkina Faso remains vulnerable to further unrest—whether from extremist groups, dissatisfied military elements, or external actors. As military leadership tightens control, prospects for civilian governance appear increasingly remote.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of African fintech, Djamo stands out as a digital banking startup with a clear focus: serving the underbanked in Francophone West Africa. While many competitors target the continent’s largest markets—Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa—Djamo has found its footing in the Ivory Coast and, more recently, Senegal. With over one million customers now using its services across these two countries, the Y Combinator-backed company is proving that smaller, often overlooked markets can yield significant opportunities.

Djamo recently secured $17 million in an equity funding round, marking the largest ever for an Ivorian startup. This surpasses its previous $14 million Series A in 2022 and signals strong investor confidence in its mission to democratize financial access. Led by co-founder and CEO Hassan Bourgi and chief product and technical officer Régis Bamba, the company launched in 2020 to address a persistent challenge in French-speaking African countries: limited access to formal banking. While traditional banks in the region tend to serve wealthier clients, the majority of the population relies on mobile money—using phone numbers for basic transactions—as a more affordable alternative.

The Mobile Money Ceiling

Mobile money has been a game-changer for financial inclusion in Africa. According to the World Bank, 28% of adults in Sub-Saharan Africa had a mobile money account as of 2022, with the region accounting for over half of the global total. This growth has brought millions into the financial ecosystem, enabling cash deposits, withdrawals, peer-to-peer transfers, and bill payments. However, mobile money’s simplicity is also its limitation. It lacks the advanced tools—like credit, investments, or long-term savings—that many users need as their financial needs evolve.

Djamo is stepping into this gap, positioning itself as a hybrid between the accessibility of mobile money and the sophistication of traditional banking. Its approach mirrors strategies used by heavyweights like Softbank-backed OPay and Transsion-owned PalmPay, which have scaled to tens of millions of users in Nigeria. Djamo’s target audience is a growing cohort of younger customers who have outgrown mobile money but remain wary of traditional banks due to high fees, outdated services, or inaccessibility.

“These users are evolving,” Bourgi said in an interview. “But they don’t want to go where their parents went, into institutions with predatory pricing and aren’t adapted to the new generation of customers. And this is what we are building, trying to become the go-to bank for this huge cohort of customers that is evolving now to more complex, wealth-building financing opportunities.”

A Growing Product Suite and Regional Ambitions

The $17 million raise will fuel Djamo’s plans to expand its offerings for both retail customers and the thousands of small businesses it has onboarded over the past two years. While Bourgi declined to disclose the company’s new valuation, he confirmed it has doubled since the 2022 Series A, reflecting its rapid growth and market potential. Djamo currently serves over one million users, a testament to its appeal in a region where financial inclusion remains a pressing challenge.

In the Ivory Coast and Senegal, where few adults hold bank accounts, Djamo’s mobile-first platform provides an affordable entry point to services like savings accounts, debit cards, and, increasingly, credit options. By catering to small businesses as well, the startup is tapping into the backbone of these economies, offering tools to help entrepreneurs manage cash flow and grow.

A Niche With Big Potential

Djamo’s focus on Francophone West Africa sets it apart in a crowded fintech space. While Nigeria’s market size and South Africa’s established infrastructure draw significant attention, the French-speaking countries of West Africa represent an underserved yet promising frontier. With a combined population of over 60 million across the Ivory Coast and Senegal alone, the region offers ample room for growth.

Investors, including Y Combinator and others in the latest round, see Djamo as a bet on this untapped potential. The startup’s success also highlights a broader trend in African fintech: tailoring solutions to local needs rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach. For Djamo, that means building a bank that resonates with a new generation—one that’s ready to move beyond mobile money but demands affordability, convenience, and relevance.

As Djamo scales its operations and product suite, it’s not just raising capital—it’s raising the bar for what digital banking can achieve in Francophone Africa. For the million-plus customers it already serves, and the millions more it aims to reach, Djamo is more than a fintech startup; it’s a bridge to a more inclusive financial future.