House of Lemba Designs Founder Bernice Dickson Charts a New Course in Culturally Authentic African Luxury
From her birth name, Pearl, to her father’s secret life as a diamond trader, Bernice Dickson’s destiny in the jewellery world was etched long before she realised it. Today, as Founder and CEO of House of Lemba Designs, Dickson is not just designing jewellery — she is crafting a new narrative for African luxury and heritage.
“When I told my father I was going to work with diamonds and gold, he laughed and told me it was in my blood. That’s when I understood: this was more than a dream — it was a legacy,” says Dickson.
After earning her diploma in jewellery design and manufacturing in the early 2000s, Dickson faced immediate challenges. Her first business, Lemba Design Studios, struggled due to limited market access and lack of support for young, Black female designers juggling motherhood and entrepreneurship. Rather than giving up, Dickson diversified — becoming a qualified trade tester, project manager, and accredited training moderator in the manufacturing industry.
This resilience became the foundation for House of Lemba Designs, registered in 2015 and headquartered in Winterveld, Pretoria. Built in a marginalised community, the studio is more than a business — it’s a movement to reclaim heritage, empower artisans, and redefine what African luxury means.
“People expect African jewellery to look like plastic beads. But our stories are rich, deep, regal — worthy of gold, diamonds, and global stages,” Dickson explains.
Her jewellery is not just ornamentation — it is storytelling. Drawing on her cultural roots as part of the Lemba people — often referred to as the “Black Jews of the Southern Hemisphere” — Dickson channels ancestral narratives into contemporary high-end designs. Inspired by indigenous symbols such as the Venda ngoma drum, she transforms heritage into heirloom-quality pieces that reflect cultural depth, beauty, and authenticity.
Her commitment to social impact is as strong as her creative vision. With funding from the National Skills Fund (NSF), she has trained 22 students to Level 4 in jewellery manufacturing, integrating them into her business to ensure long-term employment and skills development.
Currently participating in the De Beers Group’s Enterprise Development Project for Diamond Beneficiators, Dickson is on a mission to develop seven signature collections, each rooted in a South African cultural tradition. Her ultimate goal? Establish House of Lemba Designs in the heart of Dubai’s iconic gold souks and expand into global special economic zones.
“We must support South African goldsmiths and creatives. Our stories, our talent, and our craftsmanship are world-class,” says Dickson. “Luxury is not imported — it’s already here. It’s us.”
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