The 2026 Sovereign African Art Prize, presented by Standard Bank, Grand Prize Winner
We Follow the Lead of Our Own by Rita Mawuena Benissan.
The Sovereign Art Foundation (SAF) announces Ghanaian artist Rita Mawuena Benissan as Grand Prize Winner of the 5th edition of The 2026 Sovereign African Art Prize presented by Standard Bank, receiving a cash prize of US$25,000 for her work We Follow the Lead of Our Own, a richly layered embroidered tapestry depicting a historic chieftaincy procession in Accra.
Upon the news of her triumph, Rita Mawuena Benissan said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this year’s Grand Prize. My work has always been about preserving and reimagining the histories we inherit and how we continue to carry them into the present. What makes this recognition even more meaningful is knowing that the Prize also supporting meaningful charitable work with children and arts. I believe that preserving our cultural histories also means investing in those who will continue to tell our stories!”
Winning artist Benissan was nominated into the Prize by Sandrine Colard, associate professor of Arican Art History at Rutgers University. Through her practice, she reclaims and reimagines the iconography of chieftaincy, sovereignty, and collective memory, resurrecting archival photographs through sculpture, installation, photography, film, and embroidered tapestries. Central to her work is the royal umbrella, an architecture of protection and power, reinterpreted to restore dignity and visibility to the histories it once sheltered. Her winning piece, We Follow the Lead of Our Own, reinterprets a 1950s photograph of a chieftaincy procession through layered stitching, shifting the archive from record to monument and restoring agency and sovereignty to the gathering beneath the canopy.
Benissan’s work was selected through a rigorous adjudication process by the panel of five global judges, who met in South Africa to assess all 29 finalists in person. The panel was made up of 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.
Judge Azu Nwagbogu said: “Rita Mawuena Benissan’s painterly work – Although made through textile and embroidery rather than conventional oil or acrylic paint, has a distinctly painterly presence: layered colour, soft tonal transitions, and carefully composed figures create the atmosphere of a historical scene reimagines a ceremonial gathering rooted in Ghanaian tradition. This work depicts traditional architecture evoking a communal scene of ancestry, authority, and cultural continuity. The judges were impressed with her distinctive visual language and inventiveness of form.”
Mellaney Roberts of South Africa is awarded the FAMM Women’s Prize of US$5,000 as the highest-scoring female artist (excluding the Grand Prize Winner), for her work What the Land Remembers, which explores the intersections of identity, memory, land and lineage.
FAMM Women’s Prize winner, Roberts said of her success: “Sometimes, one person’s journey carries the stories of an entire community. I am deeply honoured to receive the FAMM Women’s Prize. As the only artist in my family and, to my knowledge, in my community, this recognition means more than words can express. I hope it inspires young women from the Baviaanskloof to believe in their potential, pursue their dreams and know that there is a place for them in whatever fields they choose. This award carries more than my name. It carries the stories, memories and spirit of the Baviaanskloof community, much like my awarded artwork, What the Land Remembers. A heartfelt thank you to the selection panel for recognising my work and helping bring the families and stories of Baviaanskloof into spaces where they can be seen, heard and acknowledged. To my family, friends and everyone who has supported and believed in me, thank you. I share this moment with you. ”
Leisa Paoli of FAMM said of this winner: “Christian Levett & the FAMM museum are thrilled to celebrate Mellaney Roberts as the winner of the Sovereign Art Foundation’s 2026 FAMM Women’s Prize. Mellany’s deeply evocative installation, What the Land Remembers, speaks to the universal themes of identity, belonging & memory. Supporting talented women artists & amplifying their voices lies at the very heart of FAMM’s mission & we are delighted to see Mellaney’s artistic vision recognised through this prize.”
An exhibition of the entire shortlist will be on display at Magugu House at the Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel, in Cape Town, where it will be open to the public from 21 November 2026 – 12 February 2027. One final prize is still available – the Public Vote Prize will tally up votes submitted by both the visiting public and online, voting closes in late January.
All 29 works, including the two winners, are available to purchase either through direct sale, or via 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.
Registrations and purchases are facilitated via the Sovereign Art Foundation webpage.
The 2026 Sovereign African Art Prize presented by Standard Bank
| Title Sponsor | Standard Bank |
| Organiser | Sovereign Art Foundation |
| Collaborator | Magugu House |
| Grand Prize Sponsor | Sovereign |
| Women’s Art Prize Partner | Femmes Artistes du Musée de Mougins |
| Auction Partner | Bonhams |
| Hospitality Partner | Mount Nelson Hotel |
| Wine Partner | La Motte |
| Logistics Partner | Airwings |
| Transfer Partner | Ilios |
| Cultural Partner | The Africa Centre |
| Framing Partner | Framed by Anton |
| Installation Partner | Picture Hanging Pros |
| Hotel Partner | Pearl Valley Hotel |
| Charity Partner | Ikamva Labantu |
| Charity Partner | Inceba Trust |
| Charity Partner | Jelly Beanz |
Visiting Information: Magugu House, Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel, 76 Orange Street Gardens, Cape Town
Private Exhibition Opening: 26 November
Public Exhibition period: 21 November 2026 – 12 February 2027
Opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-6pm
List of Finalists
| Artist Name | Artwork Title | Nationality |
| Amy Rusch | Frequencies of colour from the stillness of rocks | South Africa |
| Angèle Etoundi Essamba | Galactic Crown 1 | Cameroon/Netherlands |
| April Kamunde | The Refusal; Keep Your Table. I Want to Rest. | Kenya |
| Ato Ribeiro | Meyɛ Hann (I am Light) | Ghana/USA |
| Banele Khoza | 13 February: Memories bend reality | South Africa |
| Baye Ndiaga | Sauvetage (Rescue) | Senegal |
| Boris Nzebo | Inside the Kwatta to Find Water | Cameroon |
| Brett Charles Seiler | Ryan and I are both Mommy’s boys | Zimbabwe |
| Charlene Komuntale | Threads In The Furnace | Uganda |
| Chris Soal | Of glimmer and grime | South Africa |
| Diana Ejaita | The magical forest | Nigeria/Italy |
| Eric Joe Gayi | The Pull | Uganda |
| Kaleab Abate | The Guardian Angel | Ethiopia |
| Kwaku Yaro | Ama Bella | Ghana |
| Maku Azu | Wonder | Ghana |
| Mellaney Roberts | What the Land Remembers | South Africa |
| Najah Zarbout | Chuchotement… des voix me parlent dans la tête… | Tunisia |
| Olamide Ogunade | Sister’s Love | Nigeria |
| Rashid Diab | Silent Path | Sudan |
| Rita Mawuena Benissan | We Follow the Lead of Our Own | Ghana |
| Serigne Mbaye Camara | Autrefois et aujourd’hui | Senegal |
| Sthenjwa Luthuli | Isthunzi no Dondolo/Shadow & Walking Stick | South Africa |
| Taabu E. Munyoki | Tunadu Nini Huku? | Kenya |
| Talia Ramkilawan | The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit | South Africa |
| Tiemar Tegene | Flesh and Blood | Ethiopia |
| Tonia Nneji | A Graziella evening (from the saints of Goodevening street series) | Nigeria |
| Usha Seejarim | Blow | South Africa |
| Weaam Elmasry | Echoes of Acceptance | Egypt |
| Wezile Harmans | Writing towards repair | South Africa |
Editors Notes
The Sovereign Art Foundation
The Sovereign Art Foundation (SAF) is an international charitable organisation founded in Hong Kong in 2003 with a dual mission: to promote and support contemporary artists, and to provide disadvantaged children with access to the therapeutic benefits of art.
In 2004, SAF launched The Sovereign Asian Art Prize, now recognised as the most established and prestigious art award in Asia-Pacific. The Prize provides artists with international recognition and financial awards whilst raising funds through the sale of finalists’ works. Proceeds are split equally between the artists and SAF, which uses them to run and fund programmes that support disadvantaged children using expressive arts. SAF expanded globally in 2021 with new professional prizes in Africa and Portugal.
In 2013, SAF launched Make It Better (MIB), an initiative that supports children from low-income backgrounds and with special educational needs in Hong Kong. MIB works in local schools and community centres to offer children a programme of expressive arts workshops designed to build self-esteem, confidence, self-awareness and interpersonal skills. SAF also supports teachers, social workers and caregivers of these children by introducing them to the therapeutic benefits of art.
SAF also runs art prizes for secondary-school students globally, reinforcing its belief in the importance of art in the education system.
Sovereignartfoundation.com
Standard Bank
Standard Bank Jersey Limited is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission, registered in Jersey No. 12999. The principal business address of Standard Bank Jersey Limited is Standard Bank House, 47 – 49 La Motte Street, St. Helier, Jersey, JE2 4SZ.
Sovereign
Sovereign began in Gibraltar in 1987 and has since grown into one of the largest independent corporate and trust service providers in the world. We currently manage over 20,000 structures for a wide variety of clients – companies, entrepreneurs, private investors or high net worth individuals (HNWIs) and their families – and have assets under administration in excess of £20 billion.
Sovereign Corporate Services – offers company formation and management across all major jurisdictions, together with the necessary support to assist companies of all sizes to establish and sustain operations successfully.
Sovereign Private Client Services – provides trustee services, wealth management and succession planning to internationally mobile families and entrepreneurs.
Sovereign Retirement Planning – devises and administers individual and corporate international pension schemes that offer choice, transparency and portability across multiple jurisdictions.
We have established a network of offices or agents in all major international finance centres allowing our clients to access a global service from a local point of delivery. We hold the appropriate authorisations in all jurisdictions that require us to be licensed.
Magugu House
Founded by internationally acclaimed South African fashion designer Thebe Magugu, MAGUGU HOUSE is a multidisciplinary cultural space dedicated to celebrating African creativity across art, fashion, design and culture. Conceived as a platform for artistic exchange and collaboration, MAGUGU HOUSE brings together established and emerging creative voices through a programme of exhibitions, installations and cultural experiences. With locations in Johannesburg and Cape Town, the latter housed within the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, MAGUGU HOUSE seeks to foster meaningful dialogue around contemporary African creative expression.
Bonhams
Founded in 1793, Bonhams is one of the world’s leading auction houses — defined by connection, and home to the curious.
With over 230 years of expertise, Bonhams operates a global network of trusted specialists across 24 countries, including flagship salerooms in London, New York, Paris and Hong Kong. Across more than 60 specialist categories, Bonhams serves collectors of every kind – from emerging to established — with the objects, stories and expertise that define their collecting journey.
Beyond auctions, Bonhams is both a destination for discovery and for industry-leading services and support. Its rotating programme of exhibitions and public programming is free and open to all, reflecting a longstanding commitment to curiosity, cultural conversation and the enduring power of objects.
For forthcoming auctions and details of specialist departments, visit Bonhams.com.
Female Artists of the Mougins Museum
FAMM (Female Artists of the Mougins Museum) is the first museum in the world outside the USA to have a permanent collection dedicated to major female artists, from Impressionism to contemporary art. Opened in June 2024 in the historic village of Mougins, between Cannes and Nice in the south of France, FAMM spans four floors and presents around 100 works by internationally recognised artists, including Frida Kahlo, Dora Maar, Niki de Saint Phalle, Lee Krasner, Louise Bourgeois, Leonor Fini, Leonora Carrington, Marie Laurencin, Françoise Gilot, Marina Abramović, Tracey Emin, Shirin Neshat, Cecily Brown, Nan Goldin, Jenny Saville and Tatiana Trouvé.
Founded by collector Christian Levett, FAMM offers a perspective on art history shaped by the work of women artists, many of whom have been underrepresented in its traditional narratives. The museum also lends works to other institutions and presents one temporary exhibition each year, with Simon de Pury as guest curator.
Visit FAMM famm.com
SUPPLIED.
