KZNSA and the FirstRand Foundation present a collaborative craft initiative rooted in legacy, co-design and sustainable rural enterprise, on view until 30 April 2026
ifa Crafted Art.
The ifa crafted heritage collection is currently on display at Art&About in Merchant Place, Sandton. Hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts (KZNSA) in partnership with the FirstRand Foundation, the exhibition foregrounds the skill, innovation and cultural inheritance of master crafters from rural KwaZulu-Natal. The presentation runs until 30 April 2026.
Launched in 2025, ifa crafted, meaning “inheritance” in isiZulu, draws conceptually from indlalifa, those entrusted with passing down legacy, and the philosophy of ukuloba ngezandla, or “thinking with hands”. The initiative has engaged more than 80 master crafters from rural communities, including Ixopo, Ntshongweni, Hlabisa, eManguzi, Rorke’s Drift, Greytown, Cato Ridge, Mthwalume, Mbazwane and the Valley of a Thousand Hills.
Co-design, craft knowledge and contemporary translation
Through a collaborative co-design process led by Angela Shaw of KZNSA, beadwork artist Hlengiwe Dube, Gary Cotterell and contributing designers, participating artisans have reinterpreted established techniques across a range of media. These include beadwork, telewire and wire weaving, ilala palm and grass weaving, tapestry, ceramics, wood carving, embroidery and textile printing.
The resulting body of work situates traditional craft within contemporary design contexts, presenting luxury homeware, jewellery, décor objects and collectable pieces that retain cultural specificity while engaging global markets. Rather than framing heritage as static preservation, the exhibition positions it as an evolving and economically viable creative practice.
Several artisans attended the exhibition, sharing the narratives embedded within their processes. Nomfundo Mkhize, a beadwork and textile specialist from the Valley of a Thousand Hills, is recognised for intricate patterns that weave personal and communal histories into contemporary forms. Angeline Masuku, an ilala palm weaver from northern KwaZulu-Natal, produces tightly coiled baskets shaped by generational knowledge. Busisiwe Mayise’s telewire works transform recycled materials into vibrant statements of resilience, while Sibusiso Mthembu’s sculptural wire objects bridge rural tradition and urban form.
Heritage as an economic strategy
Beyond exhibition visibility, ifa crafted has introduced professional design mentorship, e-commerce platforms and access to high-profile markets, enabling participating artisans to strengthen income streams and professional identities. The initiative proposes a replicable model for rural creative enterprise that balances heritage preservation with innovation and inclusive economic growth.
Kone Gugushe, Head of Social Investing at FirstRand, describes the programme as an example of how strategic partnerships can sustain cultural heritage while generating long-term economic opportunity. By investing in rural makers, the project situates craft not as marginal production but as central to South Africa’s cultural and economic future.
KZNSA, a non-profit arts organisation based in Durban, continues to support regional creative ecosystems through exhibitions, public programmes and sales platforms. Through ifa crafted, the organisation extends this mandate into rural contexts, foregrounding collaboration, design literacy and sustainable development.
The ifa crafted heritage collection opened in February 2026 at Art&About, Merchant Place, Sandton, and remains on view until 30 April 2026.
