The article reports on the launch of the Koyo Kouoh Fellowship, a new program funded by Art Basel in memory of the late Cameroonian Swiss curator Koyo Kouoh. Developed in collaboration with Raw Material Company, the center Kouoh founded in Dakar, the fellowship supports emerging curators, writers, and cultural practitioners by bringing them to Art Basel in Switzerland, covering travel, stipends, visa support, and mentorship. The inaugural fellow is Nigerian curator Aisha Aliyu-Bima, and the jury includes figures like Marie Hélène Pereira, Rasha Salti, Otobong Nkanga, and Greer Valley.
This matters because Koyo Kouoh was one of the most respected figures in the contemporary art world, having been the curator of the Venice Biennale (posthumously carried out) and a key participant in Art Basel, including serving on the jury for its inaugural awards. The fellowship honors her legacy by fostering critical engagement with art fairs, reflecting her belief that such events can be spaces for convening and conversation, while also strengthening connections between African art professionals and the global art market.