Celebrating 20 years of the Absa L’Atelier Gerard Sekoto Award partnership

For the past two decades, the Embassy of France in South Africa and the French Institute of South Africa have supported the Absa L’Atelier Gerard Sekoto Award by Absa and the South African National Association for the Visual Arts (SANAVA) — one of France in South Africa’s longest-running partnerships between the cultural and private sectors. Reflecting back to the first award granted in 2004, the Absa L’Atelier Gerard Sekoto Award has been a celebration of some of the country’s most talented artists who have showcased unwavering dedication, resilience, and self-belief.

The following awardees have enriched the local and international cultural landscape and have kept the spirit of Gerard Sekoto alive: Billie Zangewa (2004); Lawrence Lemaoana (2005); Nomusa Makhubu (2006); Nina Barnett (2007); Retha Ferguson (2008); Nyaniso Lindi (2009); Bongumenzi Ngobese (2010); Isabel Mertz (2011); Bambo Sibiya (2012); Mongezi Ncaphayi (2013); Mbavhalelo Nekhavhambe (2014); Natalie Moore (2015); Matete Motubatse (2016); Banele Khoza (2017); Philiswa Lila (2018); Phoka Nyokong (2019); Abongile Sidzumo (2021); Malebogo Molokoane (2022); Bulumko Mbete (2023); Lusanda Ndita (2024).

• Meet all the award winners here.