Monkeybiz is an economic upliftment project dedicated to reviving the traditional craft of African beadwork and empowering women to become financially independent. The story starts in 1999 when Barbara Jackson, a South African ceramicist, showed a small beaded doll to a part-time student, Mathapelo Ngaka, who then took it to her mother, Makatiso, a skilled bead artist with the brief “can you do a doll that looks unique?” and Monkeybiz was born.
Makatiso has taught many of the existing Monkeybiz artists how to bead; her house in Macassar, Khayelitsha, was the starting point for many a beader. Mathapelo and her team collect the work, return with the orders, beads and meal parcels to distribute amongst the artists, and they are on call for the beaders if anyone should need guidance or help.
Please click on the link below if you would like to learn more about the organisation