By S.Browne. Updated 3:58 p.m., Saturday, August 8, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
An African ancestral art form is taking root in Bequia, where six local artists are preparing to showcase original batik pieces after completing the island’s first Bequia African Batik Intensive Program (BABI).
The five-week pilot programme, organised by The Hub Collective and Owia House, introduced the six participants to the history, symbolism and hands-on techniques of African batik, while also exploring how the traditional textile art can become a pathway to cultural preservation, creativity and entrepreneurship.
The first cohort comprises Cassandra Ollivierre, Colin Peters, Dravin Peters, Kaymarie “Shaki” Daniel, Rhonelle Simmons and Solana Gooding.
They will be formally recognised at an open house and graduation ceremony on Tuesday, August 11, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Creative Arts Centre at The Hub Collective Inc. on the Anglican Church Grounds in Port Elizabeth.
“This program was never just about learning a craft,” said Director of Strategic Growth at The Hub Collective, Holly Bynoe. “It’s about storytelling, healing, and building tangible economic pathways for our community, and we’ve watched with delight and awe all three come together over these past weeks.”
Led by Founder of Owia House, Dr Nadia Richards, the programme combined practical batik-making with lessons on the history and symbolism of the art form. Participants worked with wax, stamps, dyes and marbling techniques, while also engaging in journalling and reflection.
For Richards, bringing the programme to Bequia carries a deeply personal connection.
“This graduation marks a special time for me in Bequia,” Richards said. “To have the opportunity to transfer an African ancestral art form in a place closely linked to my ancestry meant the world to me.”
Richards said the six participants brought their own artistic skills and techniques to the programme and embraced the opportunity to deepen their understanding of batik.
“As an entrepreneur new to the Island, I am hopeful that I will have an opportunity to work closely with these talented local batikers, expanding the practice of African batik and making incredible textiles in Bequia,” Richards said.
The partnership between the two organisations began with a proposal from Owia House in 2025 to use batik as a vehicle for cultural preservation and entrepreneurship within the African diaspora.
Owia House, which focuses on African and African diasporic art, is now working towards establishing a permanent studio and gallery in Bequia. The organisation also intends to work with community partners to transform graduates’ textiles into finished, marketable products.
That longer-term vision could give the programme significance beyond the graduation ceremony, with plans to offer future participants opportunities to continue as apprentices, pursue entrepreneurship with support from Owia House, or explore local, regional and international markets for their work.
“Batik carries centuries of tradition in every layer of wax and dye,” said President of The Hub Collective, Jessica Jaja. “To see it taking root here, taught by a scholar of the diaspora and practised by creatives on our island, is exactly the kind of work The Hub exists to support.”
Tuesday’s event will give the public an opportunity to see that work firsthand.
The programme will begin with reflections from each of the six graduates on what drew them to batik and what they gained from the experience, followed by the presentation of Certificates of Completion.
The event will conclude with a Batik Expo, where guests can meet the graduates, view and purchase their original textiles, and hear directly from the artists about their work.
Music will be provided by DJ Patrick Garel, with photography and video coverage by Gabriel Sargeant.
The event is free and open to the public.
The Hub Collective and Owia House intend to build on the pilot with additional cohorts in the future, positioning African batik not only as a traditional art form but also as a potential avenue for creative enterprise in Bequia.
The graduation ceremony and Batik Expo will take place on Tuesday, August 11, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Creative Arts Centre at The Hub Collective Inc., Anglican Church Grounds, Port Elizabeth, Bequia.
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