Amazwi Abesifazane is an archive of South African women’s intimate memories expressed in embroidered, appliqued and beaded cultural documents. The data base of these pieces, including the cloth, personal information, photo of the artist as well as the story relating to the cloth in the indigenous language and English, comprises close to 3000 cloths.

2012 will prove to be an important year in the development of Amazwi. For the last three years Amazwi has consolidated its archival collection and largely spent time entering all the works onto the data base.

Ms. Coral Bijoux has been contracted to give direction and shape to the establishment of a Woman’s Museum with the name of Amazwi Abesifazane (Voices of Women).

In addition to this, much work has already been done in consultation with Ms. Martha Webber from the University of Illinois in developing a virtual museum. It is hoped that the establishment of the physical and virtual museum will become a reality this year.

Internationally acclaimed architect, Peter Rich, has agreed to take up the challenge of designing the museum. We hope that this design will be finalized by the middle of 2012.

As these exciting initiatives develop more information will be made available.