If you are planning to visit GemGeneve this week, be sure to head to the African area where you will find jewels with a compelling story of hope and transformation to tell. The Jewellery and Gemstone Association of Africa (JGAA) has collaborated with GemGeneve (8-11 May 2025) to showcase the winners of two new jewellery awards in Switzerland. Under the banner "It's All in Our Hands," the awards aim to give African talent a global platform. Longo Mulaisho-Zinser, the President and founder of JGAA says: “The association's vision is to foster a dynamic African jewellery and gemstone industry, with equal access to training and opportunities, utilising the natural and human resources available, developing skills through collaboration, and acting with integrity.”
Representatives from some of the projects that JGAA supports, as well winners of the competitions, will stand side by side some of the finest jewellers in the world for all to admire. Representing Zambia at the show will be Michele Scholtz co-founder of the Nsanshi Art with Kansanshi Mine PLC, that supports vulnerable women into becoming jewellers. Scholtz says: "We’re not just taking jewelry to Geneva. We’re taking a piece of Zambia’s soul." Aphia Hangili, a top graduate of Nsanshi Art will at the exhibition to share her story of the how her life was transformed the Nshanshi jewellery programme.
Winners for the Emerging Designers based in Africa are Khumo P Makwa (above) from Botswana for the “Mapula Brooch”, Mbako Baraedi from Botswana for the "Botswana Basketry” pendant (below) and Olajumoke Oluwatunmibi (bottom) from Nigeria for the “The Mulberry Collection” pendant. Katalin Torda, Rene Benson, and Retha Minnie were in the second position.
The winners of the Expert Category for jewellers based in Africa and the diaspora are Venasho Phiri (below) from Zambia of Jewel Of Africa with the Sleeping Tree pendant, Stefania Indelicato of Eritrian-Italo descent of Amber Souk Jewellery with the 1,000 Flowers ring, and One Rapelana (main image) from Botswana of Zita Designs with the Evoke earrings.
The judges were chosen from the jewellery world, including Boitshoko Kebakile, Eileen Madzime, Satta Matturi, Jo Boateng, and Katrin Spranger of the London K2 Jewellery Academy. The winning jewellers' work will be on show at the Africa Jewellery Week (TM) Exhibition Space at GemGeneve, and prizes include mentoring, online tutorials, and books.
MasterPeace Academy will be present at GemGeneve bringing awarness of how they support jewellers while championing diversity, equality, and inclusion. Previously, GemGeneve welcomed the Strong & Precious Art Foundation from Ukraine as well as Armenia’s AJA jewellers.
JGAA was founded in 2022 by Zambian-born, London-based Longo Mulaisho-Zinser, who, alongside her work as a lawyer, found a calling to help her fellow Africans. JGAA is the first association focusing on poverty alleviation and economic advancement in Africa through jewellery training and gemstone education. Made up of jewellers, gemstone professionals, gemmologists, business people, educators, investors and African development specialists, the JGAA focuses on the great African resource of its people, often overlooked despite the continent’s abundant mineral wealth, by supporting sustainable economic development in the African jewellery and gemstone industry.
Longo built the structure to deliver the association's training, mentoring and education goals. Its patrons are Dr Gaetano Cavalieri, President of the World Jewellery Confederation and founding patron of JGAA and Dr K Y Amoako, Founder and President of the Africa Center for Economic Transformation (ACET). The association has developed partnerships with African mining entities such as Gemfields Ltd, Platinum Guild International, Kansanshi Mine Plc, and its partner, First Quantum Minerals. Kansanshi Mine PLC set up a jewellery school for vulnerable women in the Solwezi, Zambia mining community.
Through "The Rainbow Beneath Our Feet" ™ the JGAA delivers jewellery, gemstone and minerals education, development, and know-how. The courses are offered by committed and respected individuals in the world of jewellery, including Michele Scholtz, co-founder of Nsanshi Art School with Kansanshi Mine PLC, Karen Smith of We Wield the Hammer, USA, Amira Ayad, Founder of Cairo Center for Contemporary Jewellery, Norma Banton Founder MasterPeace Academy, UK & Kenya and the K2 Academy in London.
Longo says: 'Now is the time for a significant shift, a transformation of materials, people, and perceptions. "It's time Africa speaks for itself through its jewels, people, and the rainbow beneath our feet."
