Notes

"Umgwaqo," meaning "road," is inspired by Ben Okri’s The Famished Road. This ongoing series explores themes of identity and resilience. Each piece, a love letter combining painful histories with tender memories, reflects the beauty and strength that emerge from hardship. uMgwaqo honours the complex legacy embedded in our landscapes, celebrating both the oppressive origins of our infrastructure and the enduring spirit that shines through adversity.

The Herd is a collaborative craft and design collective with a vision that extends beyond mere artistic expression. Through collaborative efforts in producing distinctive, high quality contemporary pieces, we honour and sustain the traditional techniques passed down from one generation to the next. Our work serves as both a celebration and preservation of African traditional techniques, uniquely viewed through the lens of contemporary design.

At the core of our journey is a steadfast commitment to exploring and revitalising traditional techniques, beginning with the rich tapestry of African beading culture. Acknowledging that beading has historically been a profound form of communication and a labour of love for African women, we aspire to contribute to the restoration of its authentic spiritual beauty, which has been obscured over the years. We are inspired by Zulu Love Letters as a way of creating our pieces because they embody intricate beaded messages that symbolise love and affection. These cherished tokens, given by Zulu maidens to their beloveds, carry deep meanings through their colours and patterns, reflecting expressions of love, gender, and marital status. By drawing on this tradition, we explore identity and heritage through ancient African design, infusing our creations with contemporary perspectives to foster a dialogue of cultural resonance. Each of our pieces is an ode to these timeless expressions of love and connection.

- Mbali Mthethwa , founder of The Herd