Dumile Feni’s daughter sues gallery over dad’s artwork

Anti-apartheid activist and world-renowned sculptor Dumile Feni’s daughter, Marriam Diale, is suing well-known Gallery Momo for R12m over nonpayment.

Diale filed papers at the Joburg high court last week in which she seeks a court order compelling Monna Mokoena, owner of Gallery Momo, to pay her father’s estate R12m she said was made from the proceeds of the sculptures sold by the gallery.

Diale had asked the Joburg-based gallery to help her sell the sculptures made by Feni before he died in the US in 1991.

Some of the revered pieces inspired by Feni’s struggle for freedom and justice have since fetched big prices, ranging from R600,000 to R6m.