Rican Voices hosts an goldsmith

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In 2002, he relocated from London to his native South Africa with his wife, Wumba, to pursue a common dream to create a business that could train talented youngsters from Africa to become goldsmiths as good as the best London could offer.

Kapo is a member of the London Assay Office, the body charged with testing and hallmarking precious metals in the United Kingdom. He is also involved with the University of Johannesburg where he is a lecturer in its Jewellery Faculty.

He played a prominent role when members of staff and students from the university’s Jewellery Design Department helped raise R230 000 for the Nelson Mandela Foundation in July 2010 through an Anglo Platinum initiative. Kapo’s broach, which auctioned for R100 000, expressed freedom and was entitled Ibhabhathane (butterfly). The project was aimed at raising funds and contributing to the long-term sustainability of the foundation, as well as an opportunity to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela.

In this weekend’s edition of African Voices, the master goldsmith shares with viewers how his dream became a reality with the formation of Akapo Jewels in Johannesburg, and how it has offered him the opportunity to produce jewellery for top-end clients and allowed him the space to train people from the continent to become top manufacturers.