Labi Kapo, a gifted and artistic
creating a workshop that allowed him the space to fulfil his dream of
London jeweller who has worked with
training people from this continent to become top-end manufacturers.
renowned jewellers such as Andrew
Above, from left: Wumba Kapo (Director) and Labi Kapo (Director)
Grima (Queens Court Jewellers –
Labi is a master goldsmith, a member of the London Assay Office and
Queen Elizabeth II), Universal Gem
involved with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) as a lecturer in its
Trade,
Robert
Jewellery Faculty. Between lecturing and manufacturing, Labi also fi nds
Glenn and Byron Jewellery Ltd,
time to mentor young people starting off in the industry. Your typical
decided to leave Europe behind and
student found at Akapo Jewels would either be a UJ graduate, an MQA
relocate to South Africa with his wife
trainee (accredited service provider) or a private student. The training
Wumba in 2002.
provided at Akapo is for Graduate Development Projects (GDP), which
Alexis
Jewellery,
is then followed by a trade test. Akapo also provides NQF training Labi and Wumba had a dream to
from level two, three and four. The team specialises in developing and
create a business that could teach
designing short courses for people in the industry who are seeking to
and train talented youngsters from
hone their skills and develop their careers.
Africa to become as skilled as the best London had to offer in the form of goldsmiths. This dream became a reality with the formation of Akapo
Wumba, co-director and administrative manager of the business, and
Jewels, based in Hyde Park, Johannesburg. The facility offered Labi the
Labi welcome students from across the continent and invite any private
opportunity to work and produce jewellery for the top-end consumer
client or company to make contact with them to discuss training courses
through some of South Africa’s most upmarket jewellers whilst also
that work and add value to careers and businesses.
AKAPO JEWELS (Pty) Ltd • Specialists in Bespoke Jewellery Address: Hyde Park Corner, 5th Floor, North Wing, Johannesburg, 2196 • Tel: +27 11 325-4704 • E-mail: wumba@akapo.co.za • www.akapojewels.co.za