An Evening with Ape Action Africa

A fund-raising gala dinner in London for Ape Action Africa

An evening in London.

Back in 2019, plans were put in place for a fund-raising gala dinner in London for Ape Action Africa for March 2020, it was of course postponed. The new date of October 7th 2022 thankfully went ahead.

The black tie event started with a drinks reception before fine dining presented by Christopher Basten, Vice President Craft Guild of Chefs. A live auction of exclusive artwork, including a painting donated by Jacha was a huge success. However the highlight of the evening was a rare and fascinating talk by Rachel Hogan OBE.

All money raised by the event went directly to Ape Action Africa’s sanctuary in Mefou National Park.

A primate art auction.

In his role as ambassador for Ape Action Africa, Jacha put together a primate art exhibition. Each piece was then auctioned live on the night, raising an amazing £9,500. Jacha created a large Chimpanzee oil painting, inspired by the chimps cared for by Rachel and her team. He assembled a small group of top primate artists who also donated work for the event. Those artists were, wildlife photographer Shannon Hinson Witz and painters Yvan Hendrick and Kobus Rossouw.

Rachel Hogan OBE

Rachel is director of Ape Action Africa, her packed schedule means she makes very few appearances in the UK. Her presentation on the night was informative and emotional in equal measure. Her story of volunteer turned director is inspirational, her dedication to the primates of Cameroon is unrivalled. Travelling with her was Mr Appolinaire Ndohoudou, dedicated caregiver and Controller of Ape Action Africa.

Limited edition merchandise

As well as his chimp painting, Jacha also designed a mixed media tablecloth for the event. The tablecloths are available to buy online whilst stocks last.