‘The Buddy Bear is not just a charming sculpture; it’s a symbol of tolerance and understanding among cultures, peoples, and religions. Originating from Germany, these joyful bears represent our capital, Berlin, where the bear is the heraldic animal. Over the last 20 years, Buddy Bears have traveled the globe, standing in front of German embassies and brightening streets in cities worldwide.
In 2024 the German Embassy hosted a design competition to create a unique Buddy Bear for the German Embassy in Pretoria, and we were thrilled to have 45 talented artists participate. A selected Jury consisting of the Association of Arts Pretoria, the Goethe-Institut and the German Embassy had the hard task to select the winning design amongst the numerous highly creative designs.
The winner of our competition is Ms. Buhle Ramalepa, a Johannesburg-based artist whose work draws inspiration from traditional dot art and vibrant colors. She aims to celebrate the interconnectedness of cultures through her art, and we are excited to see her design come to life!
Thando is now travelling the country and will visit many places and people in 2025.
Feel free to take a picture with him! Thando is quite a shy bear, so we would kindly ask you not to touch or even climb on it!’
