Monkeybiz Celebrates 25 Years of Beading Hope, Heritage, and Empowerment

Cape Town’s celebrated non-profit Monkeybiz marks a milestone this month: 25 years of transforming traditional South African beadwork into a global movement of art, opportunity, and upliftment. What began in 2000 with a single beaded doll, created by Makatiso Ngaka-Mtati and championed by founders Barbara Jackson and Shirley Fintz, has grown into a thriving creative collective supporting more than 450 lives across Cape Town’s townships.

At its core, Monkeybiz is about more than craft. It’s about sustainability, dignity, and the ability for artists – many of them women supporting multigenerational households – to shape their futures through their skills. Every beaded sculpture, doll, or artwork tells a story of heritage and hope. The economic ripple effects have been profound, with many artists’ children now attending university, pioneers in their families.

General Manager Esther Filiba reflects, “Each piece represents hope, independence, and cultural preservation.” That ethos has extended beyond art into real-world support, from year-end bonuses to pandemic relief that ensured artists were paid every two weeks for two years.

The brand’s impact reaches well beyond South African borders. Collaborations with global names such as Adidas, Beyoncé’s Ivy Park, Le Creuset SA, and The Haas Brothers have spotlighted beadwork’s transformative potential on the world stage.

To mark the anniversary, Monkeybiz commissioned a series of special-edition pieces and celebrated with the help of long-standing partners like Carrol Boyes, BOS Tea, and the V&A Waterfront.

As artist Sindiswa Sitwayi shares, “Monkeybiz is my shoulder to cry on.” And for 25 years, it’s stood steady, supporting not just artisans, but an entire tradition of resilience and beauty.