Makers & Designers

Dr Bongani Mashange is a contemporary jeweller and academic, born in Bindura, Zimbabwe. He completed his BA in Jewellery Design, as well as his MA and PhD in Visual Arts, at Stellenbosch University. Mashange has worked as a jewellery design tutor for six years and is currently a postdoctoral fellow and part-time lecturer at Stellenbosch University.

His practice explores identity within postcolonial Africa, examining belonging and selfhood within the framework of the nation-state. As a black Zimbabwean navigating diasporic and transnational experiences, Mashange translates his personal journey and multifaceted identity into art jewellery. His work celebrates the intersections of personal and collective narratives, reflecting the nuanced realities of contemporary African identity. By combining conceptual rigor with refined craftsmanship, Mashange produces pieces that are visually compelling, intellectually engaging, and culturally resonant, contributing to ongoing conversations around identity, diaspora, and the role of jewellery as both art and social commentary in a globalised world.