Philosophy

Our Buying Policy

We only buy products that have been made in Africa, or by Africans.

Our aim is to represent as many different African countries as possible, and the many diverse cultures that call these countries home. Today our selection is more extensive than ever, spanning traditional art, crafts, contemporary designer goods and functional wares. Please see our product pages.

Beauty Before Age

We believe that the skill of the artist takes precedence over the age of the piece. Superior workmanship is universally recognised and respected. Quality is timeless.

Fair Trade

We believe in the principles of Fair Trade - creating new opportunities for African artists and craftspeople, dealing fairly and respectfully with our trading partners, and paying a fair price for our goods.

Some of our suppliers in Africa are registered Fair Trade Organisations with the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT). The Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand recognizes IFAT as a credible fair trade system.

Wherever possible we develop long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with small businesses. These businesses provide the employment that empowers producers to make a difference in their own lives, and that of the wider community.

Some of these small businesses are women's groups, ensuring that women's work is properly valued and rewarded. Art and craft production often gives women the flexibility to work from home, allowing women to integrate it with household or agricultural work.

All items that we buy from individual artists and craftspeople have been purchased for a fair price in the local context, agreed upon with the vendor.

We pay all our partners within the stipulated payment period, and offer pre-production financing in some circumstances - to offset the difficulty that sometimes occurs in obtaining materials for production.

We only exchange money for goods.

History

African Art and Crafts are our passion. It has become our business over the past thirty-five years. In that time we have amassed a large personal collection from all parts of Africa. In the near future we will share this with you through our online museum.

Just Africa, which has now been in existence for 16 years, was acquired by us in 2005. We have made many changes and will continue to bring you the best in traditional and contemporary African art and handcrafts.

Our combined training in Ceramics, Sculpture, Design and Architecture in London and Johannesburg enabled us to appreciate the significance of African Art.

We began to collect and deal in artefacts from 1970 onwards through our gallery in South Africa, which primarily focused on Ceramics. It revealed to people the artistic skill and beauty of many African objects that were being ignored at the time.

African art and crafts were less accessible than they are today, so we were presented with a great opportunity to travel on business to remote areas in Africa.

Unhappy with the political situation in South Africa, and having witnessed amongst many other things, the compulsory closure and destruction of artefacts from the Museum of Mankind in Johannesburg, we moved to the UK in 1982. We then opened Out of Africa, a gallery devoted entirely to African art and crafts, which operated until our move to Australia in 2004.

We go on regular buying trips to Africa, and are fortunate to be able to draw on our existing contacts, built up over so many years of dealing directly with African artists, craftspeople, small businesses and co-operatives. We are also always interested in purchasing quality items and collections from private collectors outside of Africa, though the vast majority of our buying is done directly.

Our daughter Annwen has recently joined the business. She was born in Johannesburg and received her Masters degree in Cultural Heritage Management and Museums from the University of Cambridge, after completing a BA Hons. in Archaeology and Classics at Nottingham University. She also holds an MBA with a specialisation in Marketing Management.

Annwen has been involved in the business - accompanying us on buying trips and to trade shows and exhibitions - from an early age. Growing up in this environment, and with our personal collection as an educational resource, has given her an excellent knowledge of the products, people and issues with which we encounter daily.

We thank you for supporting our business. Please feel free to contact us if you have any queries, requests, or would like to be on our mailing list to be notified of upcoming exhibitions and new stock.

Laraine, Cecil and Annwen Joffe.

Museum

Coming soon.