Toyota Tsusho Corporation and its subsidiary CFAO SAS have announced the five inaugural winners of the Toyota Tsusho CFAO African Art Award. Zimbabwean mixed-media artist Moffat Takadiwa received the Grand Prize, while Gosette Lubondo and Unathi Mkonto were honored with Distinguished Awards. The selection process involved 35 international art professionals who nominated 100 artists, eventually narrowing the field to 12 finalists before selecting the five winners across various categories including painting and photography.
This initiative marks the first major African art award established by a Japanese private corporation, signaling a growing corporate interest in the African contemporary art market. By providing financial support and organizing a touring exhibition across Togo, Japan, and France, the award offers significant global visibility to emerging African talent. The program highlights the increasing institutional and commercial bridges being built between the Japanese art scene and the African continent.