Installation 07

There’s lots to discover from flying storybooks to beaded animals and Santa’s taxi. So, make sure you check out our CAPE TOWN FESTIVE STORY this holiday season.

Calling all the young and young at heart: explore this interactive installation, enjoy story time with Santa and discover a world of stories with Book Dash.

Reading is crucial to the development of young minds. That’s why we’ve joined hands with Book Dash, an impactful NPO and local publisher of open, African picture books for little ones. They believe that ‘every child should own one hundred books by the age of five’ because this supports the long-term academic, social and economic prospects of tomorrow’s generation. Despite this, 70% of children in SA grow up without books at home. 

Book Dash is working to change that story, with over 3.5-million Book Dash books already distributed. They do this by collaborating with volunteering amateurs and professionals to shorten the creation process so that its high-quality storybooks can be translated, printed and distributed freely by anyone, with various partners. 

We’re excited to have an inspiring Book Dash library featured in our beloved-by-children installation in Centre Court. 

Partnering to change futures, one book at a time. 

Hit play to get the full story about Book Dash and our partnership. 

Book Dash_ One Million Books in Children's Hands.mp4

Centre Court, Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

A Cape Town Festive Story

Installation 08

Calling all the young and young at heart: explore this interactive installation, enjoy story time with Santa and discover a world of stories with Book Dash. 

Reading is crucial to the development of young minds. That’s why we’ve joined hands with Book Dash, an impactful NPO and local publisher of open, African picture books for little ones. They believe that ‘every child should own one hundred books by the age of five’ because this supports the long-term academic, social and economic prospects of tomorrow’s generation. Despite this, 70% of children in SA grow up without books at home. 

Book Dash is working to change that story, with over 3.5-million Book Dash books already distributed. They do this by collaborating with volunteering amateurs and professionals to shorten the creation process so that its high-quality storybooks can be translated, printed and distributed freely by anyone, with various partners. 

We’re excited to have an inspiring Book Dash library featured in our beloved-by-children installation in Centre Court.  

A  Cape Town Festive Story

Installation 05

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.

Our lower level central walkway, Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre (Between Nespresso and Zara).

The Cloud Baskets

Cascading bead-and-drawcord pendant lights by Mash.T Design Studio and woven lampshades by Modern Gesture, designed to resemble African necklaces, add a theatrical spin.  

In between, you’ll also see baubles (upcycled from past festive installations) now covered in papier-mâché by the women at Wola Nani (an NGO supporting the employment those who live with HIV), using paper from the V&A Waterfront’s own Waste Recovery and Recycling Centre.  

We believe in supporting female creatives as well as the voices and enterprises of women. That’s why we’re incredibly proud of the all-female make-up of makers and artists in this installation. Let’s support equality in every sphere of society! 

Visual artist Naledi Modupi uses her illustrative flair in the Fashion Link walkway, which celebrates the joy that lights up our city.

Collaboration is key to making magic. Special thanks to all the makers who made this project possible.

Between entrance 1 and 5, Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre.

She/Her

Installation 06

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.

Between entrance 2 and Louis Vuitton and upper level central walkway, Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre.

Birds of Peace

Installation 04

It comes to life through musical notes created with repurposed Tetra Pak material, honouring our care for the planet through recycling and reusing. Joh Del’s entrancing illustrations, of our Cape animals and unique floral kingdom, remind us of some of the most precious aspects of our beautiful city. No festive season is complete without a photo in front of our tree! 

Our beautiful love song to Cape Town and the magic that lies between the mountain and the sea is embodied by our festive tree, inspiring joy and wonder.

Outside entrance 4, Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre, near Amphitheatre

The Tree of Joy and Wonder

Installation 02

Look out for the vibrant Bo-Kaap houses, protea lampshades as well as paragliding beaded porcupines and hand-carved human characters – all crafted by our community of creators.

Our very own Table Mountain-inspired cable car has been woven with strips of fabric offcuts by Ashanti, featuring beaded portraits of locals (by Monkeybiz), originally illustrated by Sinenhlanhla Chauke.

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, Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre.

The Cable Car

Installation 09

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

Installation 03

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.

Between entrance 2 and 4, Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

The Hot Air Balloon

Installation 10

If you look up in this shopping hub, you’ll see an abstract representation of a clock face, using decorative elements from last year’s Watershed installations. THE TIME CLOCK shows the magic of re-using and repurposing in action! 

Clock Tower Centre

We’ve lit up the city’s favourite playground with our illuminated snowflakes: three sparkling stars made from wire and covered in lights. Joy from Africa is proof that simple materials and a little imagination can become showstoppers. You’ll also see some of Sinenhlanhla Chauke’s festive illustrations. 

BATTERY PARK

Installation 9

Personifying our ethos of sustainability, we’ve taken the snowflake lights from previous seasons and turned them into an open pavilion called THE NORTH STARS, where you can catch performances or simply enjoy hanging out. Make memories that you can carry from Africa – to the world! 

SILO DISTRICT

Installation 01

The dolphins are made of repurposed Tetra Pak material (from our on-site recycling plant) and the fish from recycled plastic. See if you can spot the Mouille Point lighthouse, parasols and seagulls up high! 

We’ve reinterpreted our iconic Cape Wheel with woven strips of fabric offcuts and hand-beaded faces of happy Waterfront visitors.

The Magical Cape Wheel

They’re inspired by skirts and are made of recycled fabric off-cuts and upcycled plastic waste.

The moving installations in this inspiring space were designed by Matthew Edwards, a designer focused on sustainable and innovative materials, in collaboration with Watershed and V&A Waterfront tenants to re-imagine the festive season in a conscious and circular way.

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.

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 

The Dancing Skirts

The Watershed is home to an incredible range of creators and crafters and is a must-visit this festive season, whether you’re finding that perfect festive gift or exploring the joys of creativity with family and friends. 

If you gaze up at Watershed roof, you’ll see a number of mesmerising, moving installations bringing that holiday magic.

Dancing skirts 02-min.jpg

Yes, these installations move in a circle. But it goes so much deeper than just that, with design circularity at the heart of their message and development. 

_V&A_Circulatory_compressed.mp4

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce varius faucibus massa sollicitudin amet augue.

We

are

all

invited

to

join

the

Dance

A CAPE TOWN FESTIVE STORY

CENTRE COURT

We are all invited to join the Dance

A CAPE TOWN FESTIVE STORY

CENTRE COURT

We

are

all

invited

to

join

the

Dance