Our Story

Diloana Tsa Afrika was born from a deep love for African art, craftsmanship, and storytelling.

Before becoming the founder of Diloana Tsa Afrika, I was a living statue artist at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Day after day, I stood in the same space where the world came to experience Africa — watching visitors pause, connect, ask questions, and feel something real.

That experience taught me one powerful lesson:
people don’t just buy products — they connect with stories.

As an African artisan at heart, I saw how much visitors valued authenticity, handmade work, and cultural meaning. Yet I also saw how many incredibly skilled African artisans remained unseen, underpaid, and disconnected from global markets.

Diloana Tsa Afrika was created to change that.

Today, we work with skilled artisans from across Southern Africa, using techniques passed down through generations to create handcrafted African chess sets and woodcraft. Every piece is made slowly, carefully, and with pride — not in factories, but by human hands.

Our chess sets are more than games.
They are stories carved in wood — stories of heritage, wildlife, resilience, and identity.

When you purchase from Diloana Tsa Afrika, you are not just buying a chessboard.
You are supporting honest livelihoods, preserving traditional skills, and helping African craftsmanship reach homes around the world.

From the V&A Waterfront to your home —
every piece carries a story.