Ifa Lethu – Kwaggafontein

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Heritage in Her Hands
In Kwaggafontein, Mpumalanga, young women learned to turn traditional craft into modern opportunity.
Despite deep cultural heritage, many rural women lack access to training or platforms that can translate their skills into income. Traditional techniques are under-recognised and undervalued in modern markets.
A coiled bracelet made of multiple strands of small, round, shiny red beads. The beads are strung closely together, forming a thick, flexible band. The bracelet’s coils overlap, creating a spiral effect against a white background.
A small, tan, leather pouch features a rectangular beadwork design in white, red, and blue. The edge and lower scalloped border are outlined with light blue beads; a geometric red-and-blue motif is centred within a white beaded field.
A rectangular piece of tan animal hide is decorated with rows of white, red, and blue beads. The beads form a rectangular pattern with a central blue stripe bordered by red and white rows. The edges of the hide and pattern are outlined with white beads.
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Creatives participated (7 rural, 7 urban)
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Attendees at an exhibition
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Product prototypes developed
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Local design studios Follow-on collaborations
ART AID delivered a skill transfer programme focused on equipping young, unemployed women with both traditional and contemporary craft techniques. Through guided mentorship, the cohort learned how to create relevant, market-ready products.
New creative microenterprises, products that blend old and new, and young women equipped with the means to earn, express, and preserve heritage.
A group of people, mostly women, pose outdoors holding certificates. They wear brightly coloured traditional African clothing and stand in front of a decorated building. Everyone is smiling, celebrating, and facing the camera, suggesting a graduation or achievement event.
A model of a chromosome showing a Y-shaped yellow structure covered in small beads, with two arms branching from a central point and a black circular cap at one end, representing the centromere. The background is transparent.
A small, tan, leather pouch features a rectangular beadwork design in white, red, and blue. The edge and lower scalloped border are outlined with light blue beads; a geometric red-and-blue motif is centred within a white beaded field.
Two women wearing hats and traditional clothing sit at a table painting small wooden crafts with colourful paints. Art supplies, paint jars, and brushes are scattered on the tabletop. Another person works in the background, partially visible.
A close-up of a dried gourd with simple house outlines drawn in black marker; a person is painting part of the design blue. In the background, two people sit at a table, focused on their own work, wearing warm clothing and scarves.
A group of women, some standing and one in a wheelchair, wear vibrant, striped traditional blankets and head wraps at an outdoor gathering under a blue canopy. The scene is colourful and lively, with women talking and engaging near tables set up outside.
A man sits on a stool outdoors, painting a geometric concrete wall bright blue. He wears a white shirt and teal trousers and uses a small brush. Green grass, trees, and wooden fencing are visible in the sunny background.
A yellow Y-shaped object made of small beads with a black round end rests on a blue surface decorated with abstract triangle and heart shapes. Shadows are visible, and the background has a soft, textured appearance.
A group of people in colourful traditional attire stand outdoors, some holding South African and Namibian flags. In front, a man wears traditional clothes and another plays guitar. Trees, a building, and a blue sky are visible in the background.
A group of women in colourful traditional clothing stands near blue barrels and a large white mobile clinic van parked on grass. Others sit under a tree, some on chairs, with supplies and bins nearby. A white building and a blue tarpaulin are in the background.
A group of people in colourful traditional attire stand outdoors, one holding a large South African flag. In front, a person dressed in animal skins and a headdress dances with a shield and staff. Behind them is a lorry with “Creative Hands Project” written on the side.
Two women sit on the ground outside, weaving traditional mats from straw. One wears a hat and pink scarf, the other a blue headscarf and checked shawl. Rolled and finished mats are beside them, with a small potted plant in the lower left corner.
Three women stand with their backs to the camera, wearing traditional beaded skirts and accessories. Their colourful tops—white, red, and yellow—contrast against a painted wall with geometric patterns and a window with sheer curtains.
A display of handcrafted items on a worktop, including woven baskets, pottery, beaded jewellery, cushions with patterned covers, and small decorative items. Some crafts, like beaded ornaments and wall hangings, are arranged on the wall and shelves above.
A group of people in colourful traditional attire hold certificates and pose in front of a white trailer with “Ifa Lethu Creative Hands Project” written on it. Some are seated on grass, while others stand, all smiling under a sunny sky.
Colourful beaded jewellery including blue bangles and red, white, and blue round items are displayed with a small black doll wearing a beaded outfit. Behind them are framed, beaded geometric designs with hearts and diamond shapes in blue and green tones.
Six women sit and stand around a table outdoors, engaged in discussion. Papers and coloured pencils are spread across the table. The women are dressed warmly; some wear hats or headscarves. Buildings and a garden are visible in the sunny background.
A coiled bracelet made of multiple strands of small, round, shiny red beads. The beads are strung closely together, forming a thick, flexible band. The bracelet’s coils overlap, creating a spiral effect against a white background.
Two pieces of tan leather, shaped like partial gloves, are decorated with colourful beadwork in geometric patterns. Each has a beaded border and square designs in red, white, and blue beads on the top surface. The background is black.
Three women sit at a table covered with beads, thread, and craft supplies, focused on making beaded jewellery. Bright sunlight fills the scene. Each woman works intently with their hands, surrounded by colourful tools and materials.
A colourful beaded doll with a red headdress, gold rings for a neck, and a multicoloured beaded dress sits on a table. A person in blue writes on papers in the background, partially visible, with a beaded bracelet on their wrist.
A handmade doll with a straw skirt and red scarf lies on a knitted beige surface beside three small red boxes decorated with white beaded designs: a flower, a heart, and a heart with polka dots.
A person with dark skin and a brown jumper uses both hands to weave small red, white, green, and black beads together, forming a patterned piece. A cluster of loose beads in the same colours rests on a white cloth below their hands.
A decorative cushion features a black-and-white photo of an African woman carrying a baby, with red and white beads sewn onto the image. In front are crocheted items, beaded ornaments, and two rectangular beaded patches with geometric patterns on tan fabric.
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