Cape Town: from ancestral making to contemporary voices

Often referred to as the Mother City, Cape Town is a place where craftsmanship is inseparable from history, identity and resilience. Here, making is an act of cultural affirmation. Artisans draw on ancient traditions, collective memory, and lived experience, reinterpreting through a contemporary lens. Across the city, makers work hand in hand with their communities, bridging generations, to uplift them and give powerful visibility to South African voices. Through clay, beads, jewellery, embroideries and hats, craft becomes a tool for storytelling and empowerment.