Notes

Abantu: Threads That Bind Us is a body of work exploring the intimate connections between memory, identity, and indigenous African knowledge systems through jewellery. Each piece is distinct, yet collectively they speak to the resilience and continuity of cultural practices passed down through generations. Drawing from personal and communal narratives, the works incorporate traditional techniques, materials, and symbolism reimagined in contemporary form. Together, they honour ancestral wisdom while affirming the evolving presence of African design. This series is a tactile meditation on belonging, relationality, and the enduring threads that bind us as abantu (the people). The current lot is inspired by Khoisan drawing.

- Dr Khanya Mthetwa