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Our Story

This year, we invited Watershed tenants to interpret the beauty of fynbos within their own medium. From jewellers and beaders, to painters and weavers, plus everything in between, this floral paradise is crafted from recycled materials.

Festive Floral Wonderland

Our hot-air balloon is covered in Sinenhlanhla Chauke’s original portraits, beaded by the talented artists at Monkeybiz. You’ll also see Joh Del’s enchanting botanical illustrations, and giant dolls sewn and crocheted by House of Zuko. What about the musical notes? Well, those are made of repurposed Tetra Pak material, turning trash into a melodic treasure. 

Our hot air balloon, fuelled by hope and joy, represents the story of possibilities taking flight everywhere you look.

The Atlantic Wonder

Our reimagined Cape Wheel shines with beaded visitor faces, dolphins constructed from repurposed materials, recycled plastic fish, and hidden treasures like the Mouille Point lighthouse, parasols, and seagulls aloft.

Between Entrance 2 and 4, Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

The Magical Cape Wheel

These awe-inspiring totems – expertly hand-created by a community of creators and craftspeople – make a return since their first Joy From Africa appearance in 2021. Enjoy another look at these beauties, telling a rich story from top to bottom.

Upper Link Mall – Totems (from Zara to Fabiani)

Totemic Treasures

Inspired by the spirit of the festive season, this year our tree features delightful penguin décor hand-crafted by Bishop Tarambawamwe and Makombe Arts. These enchanting characters are a reminder of the importance of protecting and conserving our natural Cape splendour.

Outside entrance 4, VicWharf Shopping Centre, near Amphitheatre

The Tree of Joy and Wonder

Little ones and the young at heart, hop aboard the blossom bus, journey through the Chorus of the Songbird's Sleigh and marvel at the wildflower wonder and the magic of the enchanted toadstool. This installation is interactive, so happy exploring!

The Magical Fynbos Forest

Our Table Mountain-inspired cable car, showcases illustrated and beaded portraits of locals, alongside Bo-Kaap houses, protea lampshades, and hand-carved figures — all crafted by our creative community.

We’re passionate about supporting local talent, and have joined forces with communities and collectives of bead artisans, weavers, papier-mâché specialists, graphic artists, wood carvers, metalworkers, lighting designers and many other creative minds.

Find out more about two organisations that have been part of Joy from Africa to the World for several years. 

Discover each and every hand that contributed to our inspiring installations by looking at the credits next to each installation image or on the exhibition boards in our neighbourhood. 

Many hands make magical work. 

Two decades ago, Ashanti Design was founded as a vehicle to empower underprivileged communities around Madagascar and Malawi. The goal is to enable Africans to continue the legacy of traditional craft while earning a liveable income. The brand has supported thousands of individuals across the continent (including the talented artisans in its Cape Town studio), shining a light on elevated African design through the lens of sustainable practice.

Meet Ashanti

Back in 1999, two SA ceramicists and art collectors (Barbara Jackson and Shirley Fintz) showed a beaded doll to Mathapelo Ngaka, a part-time student, looking for ways to make a unique and never-before-seen version. Mathapelo, with her mom (Mme Makatiso, a skilled bead artist), jumped in, and so Monkeybiz was born. Today, the collective has over 450 registered beaders and continues its internationally acclaimed work with a focus on empowerment and skills development.

Meet Monkeybiz

Between Entrance 2 and 4, Victora Wharf Shopping Centre

The Cable Car

Personifying our ethos of sustainability, we reimagined snowflake lights from festive seasons in the past into an open pavilion, where you can make memories to carry from Africa - to the world! You'll also spot two friendly penguins, a reminder of the importance of protecting our marine companions so that they're around for all the future holidays to come.

Makers Landing, The Cruise Terminal, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town

The Penguin Pavillion

Look up to appreciate this repurposed visual treat, designed using elements from previous installations – reinventing the layout of our Zimbabwean Binga baskets and Perspex rings. This is the spirit of stylish sustainability. 

Explore the sustainable transformation of the Weavers installation.

The Cloud Baskets

Our moving Skirts of Circularity — created out of cut-off fabric from some of our fashion tenants in Watershed — have been given new life as dancing skirts. You’ll also see fairy figures that have been designed by superstar illustrator, Bonolo Chepape

The festive season is about togetherness. That’s why we turned to our neighbourhood family for help in creating these spherical wonders. 

Introducing our circle of friends.

Lulasclan is an interdisciplinary African contemporary textile design studio that transforms everyday home and lifestyle items into unique creations, celebrating Africa's enchanting beauty and vibrant cultures. Their exclusive textile designs enrich homes with a sense of uniqueness, inviting individuals to explore a world filled with cultural richness and timeless allure.

Lulasclan

Good Good Good is a beloved Cape Town fashion brand, producing garments for children and adults in a 27-year-old clothing factory in Cape Town. The label provided offcuts from some of its iconic woven textiles. Its clothing is available at Duck Duck Goose (a multi-brand store of independent SA fashion and lifestyle brands founded by Good Good Good’s creative director Daniel Sher) in Watershed.

Good Good Good

Artclub and Friends is a non-gendered label made in Cape Town. It was founded in 2016 by Robyn Keyser, who wanted to build a brand that all artists can call home. This must-own local label sourced and selected fabric waste from Rewoven, an innovation project working in textile recycling and recycled fabrics. The fabric upcycled in our installations is otherwise non-recyclable in South Africa and has found a happy new home in our precinct.

Art Club and Friends

The successful Re.Bag.Re.Use initiative started as a Covid-19 lockdown hobby and is now building momentum in Hout Bay, Cape Town. The idea is to repurpose clean, soft plastic into functional products, instead of it ending up in landfills – while helping women earn a living. The upcycled plastic panels in this installation are inspired by the beautiful bags that are available at the AAFRICAA concept store within the V&A Waterfront neighbourhood.

Re.Bag.Re.Use

Fashion mall (from Louis Vuitton to Sunglass Hut)

Fashion in Motion

These winged creatures, fashioned from oil barrels by metalworker Claude Mutanho, have featured in our Joy from Africa festival since its 2019 inception. 

Follow our birds of peace as they fly through some of our shopping centre walkways, spreading their message of joy.

Ground Level, Next to H&M towards Mr Price

Birds of Peace

This captivating installation features recycled hanging installations designed to resemble a string of African beads, comprising of 100% cotton rope by Mia Mélange, Ashanti string baskets, illustrations by Zee Feels and more. 

United Colours of Cape Town

This year's installations

The Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre is the heart of our neighbourhood and is full of delightful designs for you to marvel at.

Sustainability doesn’t mean you sacrifice on style. It just means you work smartly and consciously to inspire and imagine possibilities. Make sure to visit these eye-catching installations in the neighbourhood throughout the festive season. 

Our Neighbourhood

The Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre at the heart of our neighbourhood is full of delightful designs for you to marvel at. Whether you’re doing your seasonal shopping or making memories with loved ones, explore the magical stories of our one-of-a-kind city in full, festive colour. 

The Joy at Victoria Wharf

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Bringing

Communities

Together

Installations

Bringing Communities Together

Installations

Bringing

Communities

Together