Nosandise: "Monkeybiz is a blessing; I can now afford to pay school fees, buy groceries for the family and give financial support to my mother, who lives at our village in the Transkei."

You can find our products at Monkeybiz retail stores around the world. These stores support the activities of our community projects in Cape Town.

You can buy products online or place your order via email/telephonically or buy products at one of the stores listed in the retail store locator.

Mail/offline orders

If you would like to place a mail order for any Monkeybiz products, please write to us at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to inquire about how the mail ordering process works.

Products we offer

Beaded artworks

All the beaded artworks are one-off pieces and are handmade by women in their homes - not factories. Each Monkeybiz piece is a vibrant statement of contemporary craft art worth collecting. While it reflects some of the qualities of Pop Art - a riot of bright colours and a superficial playfulness, for instance - it draws on an esteemed tradition of beading on the African continent. The artworks are not just pleasing to look at - you’ll want to handle them, to feel their tactile surfaces.

Positively HIV - Awareness-raising book

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A large percentage of Monkeybiz artists are either HIV-positive or care for people who are dying of Aids or for Aids orphans. The immense impact of the pandemic on the beading community has spurred Monkeybiz to action."

‘Positively HIV’ education and awareness-raising book which includes a CD with music and personal statements. The 68-page visually exciting book is magnificently illustrated with Monkeybiz beadwork images and targets young people between the ages of 15 and 24. Initially, it was published in English and Xhosa but translations into Sotho, Zulu and Afrikaans versions are planned for the future.

Positively HIV intends to educate youth in an entertaining and non-confrontational way about HIV/AIDS, as well as expose the wonderful creative (and employment) opportunities offered by bead art and crafts.

The book makes use of the Monkeybiz products to tell its story and was voted one of the best published books in South Africa in 2003. The book was produced with the financial backing of the Norwegian government through its Agency for Development (NORAD) and in partnership with ISANDI, a Norwegian arts and crafts distribution company.

All proceeds from the sales of the book goes towards providing community services..

Statements CD - Awareness-raising CD

The 'Statements' CD is a special edition collector's item of the 'Positively HIV' book - also available to the general public through retailers. The collector's version is accompanied by a 5-track music CD entitled Statements, featuring the vernacular narratives of Monkeybiz bead-artists mixed into Afrobeat electronic dance tracks by the Norwegian SaS Group. The tracks have a jazz and kwaito influence fused with traditional African rhythms.

Bead by Bead - MonkeyBiz showcase

'Bead by Bead' is both a showcase and catalogue of the exquisite Monkeybiz beadwork. It profiles some of the project's leading artists and features a gallery of some of the best pieces produced during the past seven years.

Recycled Rubber Project

In 2004, Monkeybiz began creating recycled rubber products. Located in the heart of our community, the recycled rubber workshop is where artists make rubber jewellery (necklaces, bracelets), dolls and bags made from recycled tyres. The rubber workshop is located in a container, which was donated by a group of African American women.

There are currently 5 women, led by Sikaa Hammer, who are creating the recycled rubber products. Not only do they have unlimited creative and design input, but they also acquire skills in working with metals such as recycled copper and aluminum that are used in necklace and bracelet design. They learn skills in hammering, filing, and molding, which are also transferable skills in other artistic realms.

The recycled rubber is obtained from old car tyres from scrap yards surrounding Cape Town and is donated to the project through exchange of information and awareness-raising about the products and the project.