Staff Writer
The sophomore edition of Cheuka Harare Art Fair (CHAF) is set to be announced at – in Harare on 18 June 2026.
The inaugural edition took place from 27 February to 1 March 2025 at the Andy Millar Hall, Harare Showgrounds.
It marked a landmark moment in Zimbabwe’s contemporary art scene — the country’s first dedicated art fair of its kind, brought together emerging and established visual artists, collectors, galleries, and art lovers under one roof.
The fair’s name is rooted in the Shona word “cheuka”;, meaning to reflect, look back, or reconsider — an invitation to pause and examine where Zimbabwean art has come
from, appreciate where it stands today, and dream boldly about its future, a mechanism to which the forthcoming edition aims to continue.
CHAF is mandatorily focused on the presentment of creative products from Artist Run Spaces.
The fair was widely praised as a success, receiving a National Arts Merit Award (Nama) for Best Exhibition in its first iteration.
Observers noted the well-considered booth layouts, quality of artworks, and the refreshing energy of a first-of-its-kind event.
One reviewer, compared CHAF to the established FNB Art Fair in Johannesburg, described it as a display of “Zimbabwean hope and creativity” — small but powerful, with quality over quantity at its core.
The inaugural edition laid a strong foundation for curated contemporary art events in Zimbabwe.
The fair is committed to building on its momentum and growing it with each successive year.
A second edition is anticipated, with the art community already looking forward to the next iteration of CHAF.
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