The Woza Sisi women artists’ collective relaunch their book about Johannesburg Street hair stylists and unveil a new T-shirt range

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

When they first showed their work at the Umhlabathi in Newtown, Johannesburg, the place that has been fast consolidating itself as a centre for photography, boasting photographers’ studios and a gallery which regularly hosts photographic exhibitions and art talks in 2023, their work created a lot of interest from the audience.

And it was not just because the work was the work of women photographers documenting the work of women hair stylists using the crowded streets of Johannesburg as their hair studios, who operate informally, but create hair styles that sometimes create a conversation of its own about what constitutes black aesthetics when it comes to how people in the streets choose to curate themselves, but also because the project was well thought out, conceptualised and impressively executed by the participants. CITYLIFE/ARTS published an article about what the exhibition was all about, and we this time are not going to labour that much about that exhibition as you can read it here:( https://citylifearts.co.za/plight-of-women-street-hair-stylists-in-urban-south-africa-to-be-under-spotlight-at-launch-of-new-book-in-newtown/)

However, the last time I heard about the two women artists who go by the name of Woza Sisi, it was recently when they took well known photographer Trevor Stuurman to court, accusing him of using their concept without their permission nor acknowledging them. The High Court ruled in their favour. Stuurman has however appealed the ruling in the Supreme Court of Appeal, and the case is therefore still to be heard by the court in this high-profile litigation case in the creative sector, closely watched by many as the stakes are high which-ever way the ruling goes.

Last week however, I found myself on Saturday, August 16, 2025, among other people from the creative sector at Breezeblock Eatery in Restaurant in Brixton where Lit. Culture, a book shop specializing in selling African literature, hosted Woza Sisi.

The collective was relaunching their book, which was first launched in 2023, at the same time as the exhibition. This time around the enterprising women artists of Woza have added a new product to their offering, a T-Shirt range called Daily Bread. The idea, they explained, is to create more revenue streams as part of their business portfolio.

The event was attended by several fellow creatives who praised them for their foresight. In attendance also was their lawyer Rea who came to support them in their latest endeavours. Rea did not talk much about the pending case with Stuurman, but confirmed to CITYLIFE/ARTS that it is indeed headed to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein as the award-winning photographer has appealed the lower case’s ruling which was in favour of the Woza Sisi women. Both the book and the T-Shirt range are available for purchase at Lit. Culture bookstore. Both products will soon be also available to order online through the Woza Sisi women website that will be launched soon, the artists told CITYLIFE/ARTS.