---
title: "The Herds: Ukwanda puppets to journey the globe for climate action"
description: "Ukwanda Puppets & Design Art Collective and the Centre for Humanities Research at the University of the Western Cape have partnered together with The Walk Productions to present The Herds, a public art and climate action project that will see life-size puppet animals travel a 20,000km route from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle, symbolising their flight from climate disaster."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "PHOTO ESSAY"
author: "Shelley Christians"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/shelley-christians/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-04-18-the-herds-ukwanda-puppets-to-journey-the-globe-for-climate-action/"
published: "2025-04-18T17:00:35"
updated: "2025-04-25T13:50:01"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 258
---

# The Herds: Ukwanda puppets to journey the globe for climate action

> Ukwanda Puppets & Design Art Collective and the Centre for Humanities Research at the University of the Western Cape have partnered together with The Walk Productions to present The Herds, a public art and climate action project that will see life-size puppet animals travel a 20,000km route from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle, symbolising their flight from climate disaster.

By Shelley Christians · Published 18 April 2025, 19:00 SAST · Updated 25 April 2025, 15:50 SAST

## Content

![Puppetry designer Hansie Visagie working on a penguin prototype at Iyatsiba Lab. Photo: Shelley Christians/UWC](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/3fDvdLnKU_A9uPeye-xJYv9jA4U=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ukwanda-puppets-01.jpg)

*Puppetry designer Hansie Visagie working on a penguin prototype at Iyatsiba Lab. Photo: Shelley Christians/UWC*

![A close-up of a baboon’s face reveals how layers of cardboard are skilfully used to create a textured, lifelike appearance. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/aN6UdzHfq0PHjaH9uP6DGzLwAr8=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ukwanda-puppets-02.jpg)

*A close-up of a baboon’s face reveals how layers of cardboard are skilfully used to create a textured, lifelike appearance. Photo: Shelley Christians/UWC*

![In the workshop, the shadow of a horse falls across the wall as the team works nearby. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/dN439EfxmyzpoyyR3RH7TMB5hx8=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ukwanda-puppets-03.jpg)

*In the workshop, the shadow of a horse falls across the wall as the team works nearby. Photo: Shelley Christians/UWC*

![Puppetry Technical Designer Kim Bednall adds the finishing touches to a kudu at Iyatsiba Lab. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/bT2rPwL8l0GylAw50vzSVucCejw=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ukwanda-puppets-04.jpg)

*Puppetry Technical Designer Tundra Dunckley adds the finishing touches to a kudu at Iyatsiba Lab. Photo: Shelley Christians/UWC*

![Puppetry Designer Sipho Ngxola smiles while working at the CHR’s Iyatsiba Lab. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/JJdJ0nnwRYILr6tACjoMSuv4jVs=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ukwanda-puppets-05.jpg)

*Puppetry Designer Sipho Ngxola smiles while working at the CHR’s Iyatsiba Lab. Photo: Shelley Christians/UWC*

![Puppetry designer Siphokazi Mpofu assembles the puppet, carefully fitting together pieces marked with coded labels that indicate how they connect. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/Lqa8cCR98NDKwZ-cjA1Yd-a52U0=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ukwanda-puppets-06.jpg)

*Puppetry designer Siphokazi Mpofu assembles the puppet, carefully fitting together pieces marked with coded labels that indicate how they connect. Photo: Shelley Christians/UWC*

![A close-up of a monkey’s face reveals how the coded labels come together to form its structure. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/yebJ7r8jR_SQ6fAvJd3d3Fywr8A=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ukwanda-puppets-07.jpg)

*A close-up of a monkey’s face reveals how the coded labels come together to form its structure. Photo: Shelley Christians/UWC*

![An animal's face peers through the ribcage of another puppet in the workshop, framed by makeshift bones and shadows. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/gHHka2Kv2kdIRqebCmr9QMagVw4=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ukwanda-puppets-08.jpg)

*An animal's face peers through the ribcage of another puppet in the workshop, framed by makeshift bones and shadows. Photo: Shelley Christians/UWC*

![A view through a glass window of the Iyatsiba Lab from the entrance of the Centre for Humanities Research (CHR) building. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/30Jti8fF41JwUiWIYWVOR0MYt2E=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ukwanda-puppets-09.jpg)

*A view through a glass window of the Iyatsiba Lab from the entrance of the Centre for Humanities Research (CHR) building. Photo: Shelley Christians/UWC*

![At Iyatsiba Lab, puppetry designers Hansie Visagie and Craig Leo explore the design and movement of a prototype penguin. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/vAeCO3hGmkSxE2cB14rky12cJec=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ukwanda-puppets-10.jpg)

*At Iyatsiba Lab, puppetry designers Hansie Visagie and Craig Leo explore the design and movement of a prototype penguin. Photo: Shelley Christians/UWC*

![A vervet monkey peeks out behind a wall at the entrance to the workshop. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/_9R07KRfOali4MDT2KYS7YtbcdA=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ukwanda-puppets-11.jpg)

*A vervet monkey peeks out behind a wall at the entrance to the workshop. Photo: Shelley Christians/UWC*

![Puppetry designer Sipho Ngxola and puppeteer Yvonne Msembenzi warm up before rehearsals begin. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/G_9lNdYsvin-j4FoESm-7xl6_0E=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ukwanda-puppets-12.jpg)

*Puppetry designer Sipho Ngxola and puppeteer Yvonne Msembenzi warm up before rehearsals begin. Photo: Shelley Christians/UWC*

![Yvonne Msebenzi  and Siphokazi Mpofu](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/8eIcrBkAqGITx-0_R7Xh1zzKiSE=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ukwanda-puppets-14.jpg)

*Yvonne Msebenzi and Siphokazi Mpofu. Photo: Shelley Christians/UWC*

![Artistic Director of THE HERDS Amir Nizar Zuabi watches during rehearsals. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/Nk7k2dk4S77htUxy_OzGMnBOXV0=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ukwanda-puppets-15.jpg)

*Artistic Director of THE HERDS Amir Nizar Zuabi watches during rehearsals. Photo: Shelley Christians/UWC*

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwQ2Kldl7n0)

**DM**