The Sovereign Art Foundation (SAF) today announced the names of the 29 artists shortlisted as finalists for The 2026 Sovereign African Art Prize presented by Standard Bank, an annual award for contemporary artists from Africa and its diaspora. As well as providing artists with international recognition and generous financial awards, The Prize is an important charitable endeavour, raising substantial funds to support disadvantaged children by selling finalists’ artworks.
Charles Molteno, Chief Executive and Island Head at Standard Bank Jersey, the Prize Title Sponsor, said: “We are proud to be Title Sponsor of The 2026 Sovereign African Art Prize, taking place in Cape Town and launching this November. Art brings people and communities together, challenges perspectives and opens up new possibilities. Through this partnership, we are pleased to help talented artists gain recognition and reach new audiences, while strengthening the connections between Jersey and South Africa that are central to our business.”
The shortlist, which can be viewed here, features work by leading contemporary artists, including Angèle Etoundi Essamba (Cameroon/Netherlands), Chris Soal (South Africa), Diana Ejaita (Nigeria/Italy), and Rita Mawuena Benissan (Ghana). Representing 17 nationalities, the selection reflects the breadth of contemporary artistic practice across the region.
Judge, Riason Naidoo said of the finalists: “It is encouraging to see artists from across the continent represented this year, including South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya, among others. This is a positive sign of the competition’s growth and of its role in supporting both emerging and established talent. I was also struck by the inventive use of found and everyday materials, from bottle caps, wooden pegs, wool, hessian and jute sacks to tea, coffee, nylon, electrical wire, embroidery and ballpoint pen. Working with whatever is to hand, the artists find novel ways to comment on society, explore individual and collective identities, depict everyday life in its public and private moments, and experiment with form and scale.”
The shortlisted artists were nominated into the Prize by a board of 52 independent arts professionals and shortlisted online by a judging panel of five world-class art specialists. This year’s judges are Azu Henry Nwagbogu, independent curator; Janine Gaëlle Dieudji, multilocal curator and cultural facilitator; Same Mdluli, artist, art historian, curator and writer; Riason Naidoo, curator, writer, researcher and artist; and Richard Mudariki, Founder of artHARARE.
After viewing the shortlisted works in person, the judging panel will select one finalist to receive the Grand Prize of US$25,000. The FAMM Women’s Prize of US$5,000, generously sponsored by Femmes Artistes du Musée de Mougins (FAMM), will be awarded to the highest-scoring female artist (excluding the Grand Prize Winner). The public are also encouraged to get involved and vote for their favourite finalist to be awarded a US$2,000 Public Vote Prize.
The winners of the Grand Prize and FAMM Women’s Prize will be announced at an event and private artwork viewing at La Motte Wine Estate, Franschhoek on Friday 6 November. The exhibition will then travel to Magugu House at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, in Cape Town, where it will be open to the public from 21 November 2026 – 12 February 2027.
All shortlisted artworks are available to purchase either through direct sale, or via the charity auction hosted by Bonhams (February 2027). Proceeds of all sales are split equally between each artist and SAF, which will donate them to charity partners Jelly Beanz, Ikamva Labantu and Inceba Trust, to be used to run art programmes for disadvantaged children.
Partnership opportunities are currently available. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Africa@SovereignArtFoundation.
