The Bead Society of Southern Africa was launched in an exciting spirit of inter-disciplinary co-operation at the South African National Gallery with an inaugural lecture by Dr Ruth Omabegho of Ghana in February 1999. The first meeting was very well attended, and subsequent media coverage has resulted in many requests to join the new society from all over South Africa.

The motivation to form a bead society came naturally from the South African National Gallery which has collected, researched, published and exhibited indigenous beadwork since the 1980's. Beadwork continues to be the foremost means of aesthetic expression of Southern African women and it's origins can be traced back to the early 19th century. As such it is extremely significant. Increasing attention has been focused on this art form, particularly since political transformation in the early 1990's.

All over the world bead societies exist. They are present in Russia, Hungary, the United Kingdom and in the USA there are 56. In Africa there is one in Ghana. To date there has been nothing in the south, nor one that focuses on the different and unique traditions involving the long and extensive use of "seed" beads which have produced our notable heritage of textile art.

We felt that it would be beneficial to launch a society of this nature from the South African National Gallery and permission was requested and granted. The Bead Society of Southern Africa held a formative meeting in December 1998 and a working committee was appointed.

One of the fundamental aims of the society is to connect bead and beadwork-practitioners, collectors, researchers, conservators, archaeologists, cultural students, traditional specialists,linguists, museum personnel, artists, dealers, informal traders etc, with each other through the activities, publications and membership of the Society. It is further intended to attract rural and urban beadwork co-operatives and the informal sector through participation in markets, exhibitions and conferences.

A Second important goal is the establishment of an occasional publication of the highest academic and professional standard wherein scholars, researchers, artists and indigenous specialists can publish their work.

President: Carol Kaufmann 27-(0)21-4651628
Secretary: Pat van Rensburg 27-(0)21-4345092
Treasurer: Derek Dunckley 27-(0)21-4344687



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Glass beads imported from Venice were used as currency by local people for hundreds of years. These tiny, translucent seed beads were used by women in innovative designs to create items of adornment for those they loved and admired. Elaborate beadwork costumes and body ornaments are still created for use in rural ceremonies marking the rites of passage from infancy to adulthood by many traditional societies including the amaXhosa, amaZulu, baShoto, baVenda and amaNdebele.