Naledi Maifala wins ANNA Award 2025
In a turn of events that feels like a fairy tale, ReCurate is on cloud nine, having just seen one of its own, the phenomenal Botswana-based artist Naledi Maifala, crowned the winner of the prestigious 2025 ANNA Award.
This is a real feather in her cap, and it’s a moment we’ve all been waiting for, a true game changer for both Maifala and the contemporary art scene blossoming in Botswana. We’re over the moon to have her as part of our growing family of artists.
This win is the cherry on top of an already fantastic year for Maifala, which saw her wowing audiences at the RMB Latitudes Art Fair 2025. There, as part of the “Botswana Focus” pavilion, her miniature neo-impressionistic paintings went down a storm, proving that her unique vision has international appeal.
The ANNA Award, brought to life by Latitudes and ANNA Pure Organic, is a glittering prize dedicated to unearthing and championing the next generation of women artists across the African continent. Now in its fourth year, the award is a testament to the commitment of both female-led South African brands to empower women in the creative industry.
The top prize is nothing to sneeze at: a healthy cash prize, a residency with the SAFFCA Foundation, a solo showcase at the 2026 RMB Latitudes Art Fair, and inclusion in the ANNA Award Collection. Maifala’s winning work, which explores themes of stillness and contentment, was a breath of fresh air for the judges.
They were all in on her work, praising its quiet power and its deep attentiveness to the everyday. She’s an artist who marches to the beat of her own drum, finding profound meaning in the fleeting and intimate moments of life.
“I feel deeply humbled by this award. Truly, with God, anything is possible,” Maifala shared. “This is a significant step forward in my career, especially as Botswana continues to find its feet in the art market. It has encouraged me to think bigger, beyond borders and I hope it also inspires other artists to recognize their own potential to connect with audiences in other countries, and to seek out platforms that allow them to share their skills and talents. I want to sincerely thank Latitude Online, Anna Pure Organics, and ReCurate for the incredible spaces they have created within the art ecosystem. We need platforms like these to share our stories, network, and grow our art businesses.”
ReCurate Founder, Renée Eisen-Khonat says “This year, ReCurate has been going full throttle, with the goal of discovering and nurturing new, young artists. In March 2025, we sent out a call for artists to have their portfolios reviewed, offering constructive feedback and hoping to meet new artists who had the potential for immediate representation.”
“We called this mission ReCurate’s Rising Stars, and it was at this portfolio review day that we hit the jackpot, meeting a true rising star in the person of Naledi Maifala. Her work was love at first sight for us. We knew she had the secret sauce, beautiful technical abilities and, more importantly, a message behind her works that held so much soul and warmth. It was a no-brainer to work with her, and we haven’t looked back since.”
