“…Induna is an extraordinary woman…she is wise…and so meeting her and experiencing her incredible love of people and of the art form is what drew us into creating a business together…”
Despite her lack of a formal education, Induna created a thriving business. A process which was greatly influenced by her meeting with her now co-founder, Beverley Gibson, in 1998. Born with a deep interest and fascination for beadwork, Beverley was introduced to Induna by her son, Matthew, who was aware of her love for the art form. Although she’d had a more than average formal education, Beverley had little knowledge and even less skill in the practice. The two realized that they complemented each other—Induna with her master-level skillset and Beverley with her technical know-how. Despite their difference, the pair felt they were equals.
become a major player in the art world. While the art form is incredibly laborious considering the physical labor involved, Ubuhle’s artists make their craft look easy, showcasing their mastery and creativity in every piece. The exceedingly talented Ntombephi Ntobela is responsible for a lot of Ubuhle’s success. Born in June of 1966 in Bizana, Eastern Cape, South Africa, Ntombephi learned to work with beads from her grandmother. She continued to develop her skills over the years, eventually acquiring the title of Master Beader. Recognized for her skill and leadership qualities, Ntombephi also earned the title of Induna, one of great respect.
Contemporary has many interpretations. Defined as the product of human creativity, art is a major aspect of our existence that takes on many forms to help us better express our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. In our yearning to add meaning to beauty, humans have gone above and beyond to realize mesmerizing innovations that expand the boundaries of what we know as ART. One such mesmerizing innovation is the enthralling work from the artists of Ubuhle Beads, an organization specializing in beadwork. South Africa’s, Ubuhle Beads—headed by its outstanding co-founders, Beverley Gibson and Ntombephi Ntobela—has
- BEVERLEY GIBSON (CO-FOUNDER)
After hitting it off, the two decided to create a business in which traditional non-Western skills would be valued like Western skills. It was through the combination of these skills and brainstorming ideas that the two founders developed Ubuhle Beads and fought for the recognition of Ndwango (a name the artists call their beadworks which translates to “cloth” or “rag”) as a new art form originating from the tradition of stitching seeds onto leather. At Ubuhle, the artists do things a little differently. Unlike is typical in beadwork— where the works are made by stringing beads onto a thread or thin wire with a sewing or beading needle—Ubuhle’s artists pick, the beads with a needle and individually stitch them directly onto fabric. Additionally, the artists at Ubuhle make use of strong synthetic fabric that has no movement or stretch and is resistant to heat and moisture. The fabric needs to be of a tight weave, light but incredibly strong, in order to carry the weight of the beads and make sure the design patterns stay intact. Ubuhle’s appetite for excellence is also evident in the quality of beads they employ in their art. Imported from Japan and the Czech Republic, some of these beads are even more expensive than gold! The artists of Ubuhle Beads, including Zondlile Zondo, Zandile Ntobela, Thando Ntobela, and Induna (Ntombephi Ntobela) herself, lend a personal touch to the creation of every piece. As such, clients have the right to specify which artist they want on their particular project. This leads to a more intimate relationship between the artists, the clients, and the pieces.
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