iGaming Community steps up for Foundation at SiGMA Africa Auction
Back in Cape Town for our fourth edition of SiGMA Africa, we’re celebrating in true SiGMA style by gathering the industry’s best for an elegant night of awards, charity and networking. As has become tradition, the evening hosted a charitable art auction in support of the good works being carried out by the SiGMA Foundation. Proceeds, along with a percentage of ticket sales for the summit will contribute to this year’s projects.
As we move forward into the year, education and healthcare continue to remain priorities, with May seeing the long-awaited implementation of clean water filtration systems and clean burning stove ovens in Guatemala. Meanwhile, new projects strengthen the empowerment of young women, with facilities for mothers at the Chiri Health Centre in Ethiopia, and a hostel in Kenya. The Foundation also returns to Puerto Barrios to continue support of the Ophthalmic surgery inaugurated there in 2025. Youth empowerment, sports education and the arts also feature prominently on the agenda, with projects in Nigeria, Cameroon and the Philippines.
Held in the GrandWest’s Market Hall, a three-course dinner and ceremony segwayed into an energetic auction, with six artworks going under the hammer. From the smooth 3D printing of Anna Chekh’s Shadow Man to Godfrey Dambuleni’s innovative recycled coffee pod creation, this year’s selection includes a number of mixed media pieces from an international portfolio, with sculptures sitting alongside more traditional oils.
The evening is brought to you by BetConstruct AI.
Auction 1: Sold for €6000 to Alea
Queen of cards – A bronze metal sculpture by Derek Mason
This dynamic artwork presents a captivating combination of oil painting and hand-made sculpture, exploring the intersection of tradition and the world of gambling. The woman exudes both elegance and allure, surrounded by a fan of playing cards that symbolise the high stakes of chance and strategy. The sculpture complements this with a striking headpiece adorned with poker symbols. Rusty textures bleed into the metallic surface, symbolising the passage of time and the tension between risk & fortune.
Auction 2: Sold for €5000 to Aardvark Technologies
Nyamasvisva by Godfrey Dambuleni
Nyamasvisva, a sculptural elephant crafted from recycled coffee pods over wire, transforms industrial waste into a symbol of strength, memory, and environmental awareness. Named for the Nzou clan, it honors power and guardianship, reflecting Godfrey Dambuleni’s mission to empower youth through sustainable art. Godfrey Dambuleni founded Mixed Ideaz Projects to transform recycled materials into sculpture while promoting craft education and youth entrepreneurship. Through mentorship and collaboration, his studio blends creativity, sustainability, and community development, empowering independent makers and reimagining waste as opportunity.
Auction 3: Sold for €2600 to Betora
Shadow man by Anna Chekh
Shadow Man, Anna Chekh’s faceless archetype, symbolises modern identity and curiosity. Through cross-disciplinary narratives, he becomes a guardian and seeker, inviting dialogue about humanity, selfhood, and digital existence, blending mystery, reflection, and emotional inquiry into contemporary life and evolving consciousness.
Anna Chekh is a multidisciplinary artist blending painting, sculpture, and digital innovation. Exhibited internationally, including at Venice Biennale venues, she was named a UNESCO Art Ambassador, advancing cultural dialogue through technology-driven contemporary art.
