Valerie Kabov writing in ArtAfrica:
...Despite the challenges, the international market attention has also proved to be a catalyst to formation of new galleries on the continent, who could see a path and a model of sustainability, which did not rely on philanthropic funding as in the past or domestic markets. As a result, the past four years have seen something of a surge in the number of new galleries on the continent, adopting a more internationally focused commercial operating model. Among them Addis Fine Art (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), 1957 (Accra, Ghana), Circle Art Gallery (Nairobi, Kenya), Art Space (Nairobi, Kenya), Espaco Luanda Art (Luanda, Angola), Al Marhoon Gallery (Algiers, Algeria).More here
Interestingly most of these new players are developing hybrid models of practice, rather than following the standard international commercial gallery structure, with recognition that their local environment calls for a different approach. They are also deeply conscious of the broader ramifications of their work.