It’s housed in what was a disused grain story silo on the waterfront below the city and features art from the African continent and its diaspora.

Entering the Zeitz Mocaa gallery one encounters a giant dragon created out of rubber by South African artist Nicolas Hlobo.

German sportswear mogul Jochen Zeitz is the biggest financial backer of the 32-million euro project and many of the pieces on display come from his private collection.

He says bankrolling the gallery is one of the high points of his life.

He insists its not his gallery, but Africa’s  and he invites African artists to fills its space.

Art critics maintain the Zeitz, which is being called Africa’s Tate Modern, is still missing many important African artists.

British architect, Thomas Heatherwick, who converted the grain silo, has used latticed windows to reflect Table Mountain and the Ocean which are two iconic images of Cape Town.

He says an abiding memory of his work will be cleaning an inordinate amount pigeon droppings from the empty building.

Cape Town Mayor Patricia De Lille says art lovers and people interested in African culture must put the museum on their bucket lists.

Entrance to the facility is free at certain times to African passport holders.

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