Art Report Africa

Total Records

5K+

Highest Single Lot

$3.5M

AVG Sell-Through Rate

86%

Search market data

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Walkers with the Dawn and Morning

Julie Mehretu

Ethiopian-American (b. Addis Ababa)

Artwork TitleWalkers with the Dawn and Morning

Year CreatedN/A

Sale Price (USD)$10,700,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)$10.7 million

Auction HouseSotheby's

Sale LocationNew York

Sale DateNovember 2023

Record TypeArtist record / All-time African high

Notes / SignificanceHighest price ever achieved at auction for an African-born artist (as of 2025/26)

SourceMoMAA African & Diaspora Art Market Outlook 2026; The African Mirror

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Miss January

Marlene Dumas

South African (b. Cape Town; based in Netherlands)

Artwork TitleMiss January

Year Created1997

Sale Price (USD)$13,600,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)$13.6 million

Auction HouseChristie's

Sale LocationNew York

Sale Date2025

Record TypeArtist record

Notes / SignificanceHighest-ever auction price for a work by a living female artist

SourceArt Basel & UBS Art Market Report 2026 (Arts Economics)

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for The Visitor

Marlene Dumas

South African (b. Cape Town; based in Netherlands)

Artwork TitleThe Visitor

Year Created1995

Sale Price (USD)$6,320,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)£3.17 million (~$4.9–6.3 million, sources vary)

Auction HouseSotheby's

Sale LocationLondon

Sale Date2008

Record TypePrior artist record

Notes / SignificanceHeld the artist's record until Miss January sold in 2025

SourceArtsy — '11 New Artist Auction Records Set in May 2025'; CNN

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Arab Priest

Irma Stern

South African (b. Schweizer-Reneke)

Artwork TitleArab Priest

Year Created1945

Sale Price (USD)$4,900,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)£3,044,000 (~$4.9 million)

Auction HouseBonhams

Sale LocationLondon

Sale Date23 March 2011

Record TypeArtist record

Notes / SignificanceWorld auction record for a South African painting; sold to Qatar Museums Authority

SourceBonhams press release; MutualArt; Artnet News

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for The Beautyful Ones

Njideka Akunyili Crosby

Nigerian (based in Los Angeles)

Artwork TitleThe Beautyful Ones

Year Created2012

Sale Price (USD)$4,740,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)$4.74 million

Auction HouseChristie's

Sale LocationNew York

Sale Date17 November 2022

Record TypeArtist record

Notes / SignificanceWork on paper using her signature photo-transfer technique

SourceMutualArt / Culture Type / Artnet auction records

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for The Beautyful Ones (1st version)

Njideka Akunyili Crosby

Nigerian (based in Los Angeles)

Artwork TitleThe Beautyful Ones (1st version)

Year Created2012

Sale Price (USD)$3,100,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)£2.35 million (~$3.1 million)

Auction HouseChristie's

Sale LocationLondon

Sale Date7 March 2017

Record TypePrior artist record

Notes / SignificanceHer auction record at the time; rose from ~$100,000 to $3.1M in six months

SourceCulture Type — 'Auction Results: New Records Set...'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Hands Up

Amoako Boafo

Ghanaian (based in Accra/Vienna)

Artwork TitleHands Up

Year Created2018

Sale Price (USD)$3,420,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)HKD 26.65 million (~$3.42 million)

Auction HouseChristie's

Sale LocationHong Kong

Sale Date1 December 2021

Record TypeArtist record

Notes / SignificanceSold to an Asia-based bidder after a bidding war; nearly 10x pre-sale estimate

SourceHeni; ArtNews; MutualArt

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Baba Diop

Amoako Boafo

Ghanaian (based in Accra/Vienna)

Artwork TitleBaba Diop

Year Created2019

Sale Price (USD)$1,150,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)$1.15 million

Auction HouseChristie's

Sale LocationWorldwide online sale

Sale Date2 December 2020

Record TypePrior artist record

Notes / SignificancePortrait of a Harlem-born artist/model of Senegalese descent; record before Hands Up

SourceCulture Type — 'Amoako Boafo's Top-Selling Paintings...'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Bush Babies

Wangechi Mutu

Kenyan (based in New York/Nairobi)

Artwork TitleBush Babies

Year CreatedN/A

Sale Price (USD)$3,000,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)$3 million

Auction HouseAuction house not specified in source

Sale LocationN/A

Sale Date2018

Record TypeNotable sale

Notes / SignificanceReported sold for roughly six times its pre-sale estimate; a few years earlier her works sold for ~$3,000

SourceTurbare — 'African art is breaking records at auction'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Prophet

El Anatsui

Ghanaian (based in Nigeria)

Artwork TitleProphet

Year Created2012

Sale Price (USD)$2,300,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)$2.3 million

Auction HouseChristie's

Sale LocationNew York

Sale Date18 May 2023

Record TypeArtist record

Notes / SignificanceBeat the artist's previous record of $1.95M (New Layout, Christie's 2021) by 123% over estimate

SourceArtsy Editorial — '10 New Artist Auction Records Set in May 2023'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for New Layout

El Anatsui

Ghanaian (based in Nigeria)

Artwork TitleNew Layout

Year Created2009

Sale Price (USD)$1,950,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)$1.95 million

Auction HouseChristie's

Sale LocationNew York

Sale Date2021

Record TypePrior artist record

Notes / SignificanceArtist record before Prophet surpassed it in 2023

SourceArtsy Editorial — '10 New Artist Auction Records Set in May 2023'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Paths to the Okro Farm

El Anatsui

Ghanaian (based in Nigeria)

Artwork TitlePaths to the Okro Farm

Year Created2006

Sale Price (USD)$1,400,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)$1.4 million

Auction HouseSotheby's

Sale LocationNew York

Sale DateMay 2014

Record TypePrior artist record

Notes / SignificanceHeld the artist's overall auction record before the 2021/2023 sales surpassed it

SourceArtsy — 'How London Developed a Bullish Market for Contemporary African Art'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Zebra Crossing 2

El Anatsui

Ghanaian (based in Nigeria)

Artwork TitleZebra Crossing 2

Year CreatedN/A

Sale Price (USD)$1,400,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)£1.1 million (~$1.4 million)

Auction HouseSotheby's

Sale LocationLondon

Sale Date2 April 2019

Record TypeNotable sale

Notes / SignificanceThird-highest price for the artist at auction at the time; led Sotheby's 4th African Art sale

SourceArts & Collections — 'Sotheby's Fourth Sale of Contemporary African Art'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Tutu

Ben Enwonwu

Nigerian

Artwork TitleTutu

Year Created1974

Sale Price (USD)$1,670,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)£1,205,000 (~$1.67 million)

Auction HouseBonhams

Sale LocationLondon

Sale Date28 February 2018

Record TypeArtist record

Notes / SignificanceDubbed the 'African Mona Lisa'; most expensive Nigerian Modernist work ever sold at auction

SourceBBC News; Artnet News; CNN

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Christine

Ben Enwonwu

Nigerian

Artwork TitleChristine

Year Created1971

Sale Price (USD)$1,400,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)$1.4 million

Auction HouseSotheby's

Sale LocationLondon

Sale DateOctober 2019

Record TypeNotable sale

Notes / SignificancePortrait rediscovered by the sitter's stepson; sold well above its conservative £100,000-150,000 estimate

SourceMoMAA — 'Rediscovering the Art of Ben Enwonwu'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Negritude

Ben Enwonwu

Nigerian

Artwork TitleNegritude

Year Created1970s

Sale Price (USD)$138,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)£100,000 (~$138,000)

Auction HouseBonhams

Sale LocationLondon

Sale Date28 February 2018

Record TypeNotable sale

Notes / SignificanceSold in the same 'Africa Now' sale as Tutu

SourceTHISDAYLIVE — 'Enwonwu's Tutu Sets New Record'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Procession (25-part bronze)

William Kentridge

South African (b. Johannesburg)

Artwork TitleProcession (25-part bronze)

Year Created2000

Sale Price (USD)$1,538,500

Sale Price (Original Currency)$1,538,500

Auction HouseSotheby's

Sale LocationNew York

Sale Date7 March 2013

Record TypeArtist record

Notes / SignificanceArtist's all-time auction record; roughly 4x the high estimate

SourceHeritage Auctions; MutualArt

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Large Typewriters

William Kentridge

South African (b. Johannesburg)

Artwork TitleLarge Typewriters

Year Created2003

Sale Price (USD)$935,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)£682,750 (~$935,000)

Auction HouseBonhams

Sale LocationLondon

Sale Date24 March 2021

Record TypeNotable sale

Notes / SignificanceRecord for a Kentridge drawing at the time; second-most expensive Kentridge ever sold

SourceARTnews — 'Monumental William Kentridge Drawing Sets Record'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Yellow Houses, District Six

Gerard Sekoto

South African (b. Botshabelo)

Artwork TitleYellow Houses, District Six

Year Created1942

Sale Price (USD)$978,736

Sale Price (Original Currency)£602,400 (~$978,736)

Auction HouseBonhams

Sale LocationLondon

Sale Date2011

Record TypeArtist record

Notes / SignificanceRecord-breaking price for the pioneer of Black South African modernism; contemporary of J.H. Pierneef

SourceMutualArt; Aspire Art lot notes

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Blue Suede Shoe

Dumile Feni

South African (exiled 1968; d. New York)

Artwork TitleBlue Suede Shoe

Year Created1983

Sale Price (USD)$119,805

Sale Price (Original Currency)R2,287,500 (~$119,805)

Auction HouseStrauss & Co

Sale LocationJohannesburg

Sale Date2023

Record TypeArtist record

Notes / SignificanceWorld record for the artist; rare US-exile-period colour work by this Black South African modernist

SourceStrauss & Co press release, 2023

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Crash Willy

Yinka Shonibare

British-Nigerian

Artwork TitleCrash Willy

Year Created2009

Sale Price (USD)$282,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)£224,750 (~$282,000)

Auction HouseSotheby's

Sale LocationLondon

Sale Date16 May 2017

Record TypeArtist record (at the time)

Notes / SignificanceSet the artist's record at Sotheby's inaugural Modern & Contemporary African Art sale

SourceOmenka Online; Artnet News — 'Sotheby's First Modern African Art Sale'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Intlambo yochulumanco

Nicholas Hlobo

South African

Artwork TitleIntlambo yochulumanco

Year CreatedN/A

Sale Price (USD)—

Sale Price (Original Currency)R1,479,400

Auction HouseAspire Art Auctions

Sale LocationSouth Africa

Sale Date2021

Record TypeArtist record

Notes / SignificanceSouth African and world auction record for the artist

SourceCapital Markets in Africa — 'The Rise of Contemporary African Art'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for A Terrible Beauty is Born

Mary Sibande

South African

Artwork TitleA Terrible Beauty is Born

Year CreatedN/A

Sale Price (USD)—

Sale Price (Original Currency)R341,400

Auction HouseAspire X Piasa

Sale LocationSouth Africa

Sale Date2020

Record TypeArtist record

Notes / SignificanceFrom the 'Long Live the Dead Queen' series; South African and world record for the artist

SourceCapital Markets in Africa — 'The Rise of Contemporary African Art'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Le seul et unique devoir sacré d'un enfant

Chéri Samba

Congolese (DRC)

Artwork TitleLe seul et unique devoir sacré d'un enfant

Year CreatedN/A

Sale Price (USD)$139,992

Sale Price (Original Currency)$139,992

Auction HouseCornette de Saint Cyr

Sale LocationParis

Sale Date2017

Record TypeArtist record

Notes / SignificanceFather of Congolese 'Popular' painting; multiple auction records set for the artist in 2019 at Sotheby's

SourceMutualArt

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for The Woven Warped Garden of Ponder

Jadé Fadojutimi

British-Nigerian

Artwork TitleThe Woven Warped Garden of Ponder

Year Created2021

Sale Price (USD)$2,000,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)£1.6 million (~$2 million)

Auction HouseChristie's

Sale LocationLondon

Sale Date7 March 2024

Record TypeArtist record

Notes / SignificanceThird time she set a new auction benchmark in five months; youngest artist ever collected by Tate (2018)

SourceArtsy Editorial — 'Jadé Fadojutimi breaks auction record at Christie's London'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Through Line

Toyin Ojih Odutola

Nigerian-American

Artwork TitleThrough Line

Year Created2017

Sale Price (USD)$2,198,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)$2,198,000

Auction HouseChristie's

Sale LocationNew York

Sale Date18 November 2021

Record TypeArtist record

Notes / SignificanceFull-length self-portrait; sold for 3x the high estimate, more than double her previous benchmark

SourceCulture Type — 'Major Artworks... Highlighted at Evening Auctions'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Love Ritual

Tunji Adeniyi-Jones

British-Nigerian (based in New York)

Artwork TitleLove Ritual

Year Created2019

Sale Price (USD)$208,550

Sale Price (Original Currency)£151,200 (~$208,550)

Auction HousePhillips

Sale LocationLondon

Sale Date15 April 2021

Record TypeArtist record

Notes / SignificanceFour times its £30,000-40,000 estimate; contested by online bidders in Belgium and Denver

SourceARTnews — '$34.2M Phillips London Sale Brings Tunji Adeniyi-Jones Record'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for No Wahala

Joy Labinjo

British-Nigerian

Artwork TitleNo Wahala

Year Created2019

Sale Price (USD)$208,007

Sale Price (Original Currency)£150,000 (~$208,007)

Auction HouseChristie's

Sale LocationLondon

Sale Date23 March 2021

Record TypeArtist record

Notes / SignificanceRoughly four times its pre-sale estimate

SourceCulture Type — 'Phillips Contemporary Evening Auction...'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Zodwa, Paris

Zanele Muholi

South African

Artwork TitleZodwa, Paris

Year Created2014

Sale Price (USD)$44,500

Sale Price (Original Currency)£35,000 (~$44,500)

Auction HousePhillips

Sale LocationLondon

Sale Date2020

Record TypeArtist record

Notes / SignificanceHighest price for a work from the acclaimed 'Somnyama Ngonyama' self-portrait series

SourceInvaluable / Aspire Art lot notes; Art Dealer Street — 'Art Index: Zanele Muholi'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Shade of Black

Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe

Ghanaian (based in Portland, OR)

Artwork TitleShade of Black

Year Created2018

Sale Price (USD)$250,000

Sale Price (Original Currency)$250,000

Auction HousePhillips

Sale LocationNew York

Sale Date30 September 2020

Record TypeNotable sale (auction debut)

Notes / SignificanceSecondary-market debut; sold roughly 8x its high estimate of $30,000

SourceArtsy Editorial — 'Titus Kaphar and Amoako Boafo Works Star in Phillips Sale'

Contemporary artwork detail inspired visual for Various works (range)

Ibrahim El-Salahi

Sudanese (b. Omdurman; based in Oxford)

Artwork TitleVarious works (range)

Year CreatedN/A

Sale Price (USD)—

Sale Price (Original Currency)Reported range: £3,000 to £1.5 million

Auction HouseVarious (Bonhams, Christie's, Sotheby's)

Sale LocationLondon (primarily)

Sale DateOngoing

Record TypeApproximate — no single confirmed record price found

Notes / SignificanceConsidered the 'father of African and Arab Modernism'; first African-born artist with a Tate Modern retrospective (2013); reported top-end auction price is approximate, not a single confirmed transaction

SourceArtsy — 'How London Developed a Bullish Market for Contemporary African Art'

Total Records

12.4K

Highest Single Lot

$3.5M

AVG Sell-Through Rate

86%

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Shop

Coming Soon

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Projects

Lagos Gallery Weekend

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Market Data

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The definitive media, intelligence, and commerce platform for the African art market and its global diaspora.

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