An African Christmas Wonderland

by Cecile Paul · Published December 7, 2021 · Updated December 7, 2021

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Ho Ho Ho to Herald in The Festive Season the African Way.

Snow, Tinsel, Mistletoe and Reindeer, Make Way for Hand-Made Basketry, Beadwork and Applique Instead!

Image Credit Cécile Paul (unless stated otherwise)

Image Credit V&A Waterfront
A multitude of handmade baskets suspended in the atrium – at the V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

A life-size beaded Ndeble art reindeer – at the V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

The art of weaving baskets is synonymous with African art and culture and part of the fascinating heritage and history of the different African tribes. Little wonder, then, that when it came to celebrating Christmas 2021 Cape Town’s Victoria & Alfred’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre ditched the Northern Hemisphere fake snow, Santa and plastic reindeer. They instead set out to create an African-themed Christmas, focusing on elements that are of the continent, like exquisite basketry and intricate beadwork that are now adorning every square inch of the vast shopping centre complete with cheery, colourful baskets suspended from the ceilings and beautiful hand-crafted art installations.

The contemporary 100 Beautiful Baskets Exhibition celebrates Africa’s unique basket-weaving traditions and showcases woven vessels, furniture, jewellery and much more from different communities – carefully crafted by hand, mostly created by women master weavers, as far afield as South Ghana, Zambia, Uganda, Namibia and South Africa.

In addition, eight large, intricate totem poles have been created by local heritage art and craft communities from around South Africa. Other spectacular installations include a Summer Palace for children to wander through, colourful hanging baskets in the open-air atriums, golden swallows made from recycled metal swooping through the mall, a giant Christmas tree and fairly lights that extend as far as the eye can see. It truly is a sight to behold!

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Image Credit The South African
Fabulous Hand crafted contemporary handbags – at 100 Beautiful Baskets Exhibition at V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Behind every basket there’s a story of sustainability and community upliftment. One such story is that of Angeline Masuku from Hlabisa in KwaZulu-Natal who is well-known for her Zulu art weaving techniques. It took her three full weeks to create the Ukhamba Podium Basket on show at the exhibition!

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Image Credit Cape Town Etc.
Angeline Masuku and her basket that took 3 weeks to weave

Watch a short video of the spectacular 100 Beautiful Baskets Exhibition here:

Bright and contemporary – at 100 Beautiful Baskets Exhibition at V&A’ Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

DESIGN AFRIKA

Design Afrika is an extraordinary retail space situated in a characterful old property in Cape Town’s iconic Woodstock. They specialize in finely crafted hand-woven basketry and has over many years developed close relationships with rural weaving communities across Africa. Through the global marketing of the work of these weavers – mostly women in rural areas – they strive to develop their economic independence while ensuring that the important ancient craft of African basket weaving is kept alive. Over 25 years Design Afrika has been a wholesale supplier to retail stores from Los Angeles to Tokyo, Santiago to Oslo.

Owner Binky Newman is passionate about baskets and this quest has taken her to the remotest parts of the continent to track down weavers and establish a trading relationship with them.

Binky and her team at Design Afrika nurture the creative and entrepreneurial initiative of rural communities by encouraging the production of high quality, on trend and fabulously contemporary products that look as inspirational in a minimalist Copenhagen home as it would in a gritty loft in Manhattan. It goes without saying that Design Afrika prides itself on its sustainability credentials as well as fairtrade and ethical business practice. By acquiring one of their beautiful pieces you also contribute to the general upliftment of local communities. Need any more reasons to explore their website?

https://designafrika.co.za/

Instagram @design.afrika

Image Credit Arehone Malovhele and Jacques Van Rensburg
Gorgeous patterns – at Design Afrika

Women crafters celebrating the role of women in African society – at V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

A Hanging Nest for Humans, by Porky Hefer – at 100 Beautiful Baskets Exhibition at V&A’ Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Voluptuous, multi-coloured vessels – at the V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Did you know, in African culture the various shapes, weaves and sizes of a basket very much depend on what it’s intended to be used for? This could include anything from winnowing and sifting grain, carrying crops, storing food and porting produce to the markets? The fibres used to make these organic-shaped receptacles include palms, sisal leaves and fiber, raffia (African bamboo), fibrous tree and plant roots such as makenge, vines, leaves (banana and fan palm), cane, bark wood and papyrus. Nowadays the materials also include many man-made creations like plastic, wire and recycled products!

Image Credit Design Afrika
Colourful basketry hats – at Design Afrika

Image Credit Arehone Malovhele and Jacques Van Rensburg
A Hanging Nest for Humans, by Porky Hefer – at 100 Beautiful Baskets Exhibition at V&A’ Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Plate made of telephone wire at Design Afrika – at 100 Beautiful Baskets Exhibition at V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

A giant African-style Christmas tree, roots & all, suspended from the ceiling – at the V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Image Credit Arehone Malovhele and Jacques Van Rensburg
Two-tone baskets at Design Afrika – at 100 Beautiful Baskets Exhibition at V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Hat Maker Crystal Birch’s creations – at 100 Beautiful Baskets Exhibition at V&A’ Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

A woven dog – at 100 Beautiful Baskets Exhibition at V&A’ Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

A totem with hand-embroidery, applique and felted wool depicting arum lilies, strelitzia and aloe plant life – at the V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Two bays by Ronel Jordaan & Projekt, made in Cape Town
A felted wool creation by Ronel Jordaan – at the V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Image Credit Arehone Malovhele and Jacques Van Rensburg
Organic shapes at Design Afrika – at 100 Beautiful Baskets Exhibition at V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Hand- embroidered traditional chairs for a king- at the V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Traditional fruit baskets – at 100 Beautiful Baskets Exhibition at V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Baskets and beadwork – at the V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Traditional modern applique and embroidery depicting everyday life – at the V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Exquisite storytelling in this basket – at 100 Beautiful Baskets Exhibition at V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Beadwork depicting women – at the V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Baskets are often carried on a person’s head (mostly a women’s) – at 100 Beautiful Baskets Exhibition at V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Exquisite craft – at the V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Garlic gourds and Kalahari special baskets at Design Afrika – at 100 Beautiful Baskets Exhibition at V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

A children’s wonderland – at the V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

An organic-shaped Bolga Yoomelingah-Yure special gourd at Design Afrika – at 100 Beautiful Baskets Exhibition at V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Glorious beadwork – at the V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

Izintsika Zamandla (Pillars of Strength) by the Keiskamma Art Project, made in Hamburg
Applique using traditional African prints and embroidery – at the V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre