Zohra Opoku, a Ghanaian German artist known as a 'woven storyteller,' opened her first museum survey at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town in September 2024. Titled 'We Proceed in the Footsteps of the Sunlight,' the exhibition was curated by Beata America and Phokeng Setai, and was inspired by a research trip to Opoku's Accra studio. The show explores themes of water, breath, and ground, and features works like 'QueenMothers' (2016), which examines the role of matriarchs in Ghanaian communities. Opoku relocated to Ghana from Germany in 2011, and her practice deeply engages with her heritage, including the Akan concept of Sassa.
The exhibition matters because it marks a major institutional recognition of Opoku's work, placing her within the context of Africa's leading contemporary art museums. It also honors the legacy of the late Zeitz MOCAA director Koyo Kouoh, who championed Opoku's practice before her death. The show highlights the growing visibility of African and diaspora artists in major museums, and underscores the importance of personal and cultural heritage in contemporary art. Opoku's focus on women's experiences and oral traditions further enriches the discourse on identity and belonging in African art.