About Us

Who am I?

Hi there, my name is Lisa and I want to first and foremost thank you for taking the time to look at my website, for showing an interest in what this company is about, and for caring about conservation.

I was born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe. My father is from Portugal, and my mom, Zimbabwe. I moved to the United States when I was 14, and it has been my home ever since. I am fortunate enough to say that I have my heart in 3 places; I am married to the love of my life, and have two beautiful daughters. Before having my first child I was a kindergarten teacher. I enjoyed every second of it and miss my students daily. Even so, being able to watch my girls grow and become the sweetest little humans has been the greatest blessing of my life.

Why Ahmandla?

I may have moved from Zimbabwe when I was 14, but a piece of my soul was left in Africa. It has that effect on anyone who has been there, let alone lived there. There is a quote by Bridget Dore that says, “You cannot leave Africa,” Africa said. “It is always with you, there inside your head. Our rivers run in currents in the swirl of your thumbprints; our drumbeats counting out your pulse; our coastline, the silhouette of your soul.”

I have always wanted to find a way to give back to the place that has given me so much, and continues to do so everyday. While doing research, I realized there were companies all over the world that were donating to bigger conservation charities, in other African countries, but I had not seen any being donated to my precious Zimbabwe. This got my mind racing and I was determined to make this right. I soon came to realize that there were not many, if any, specific conservation jewelry lines. There were a few companies that made animal pieces, but I didn't see any that were both at a decent price point and exclusively donating to Zimbabwe. I knew of a wonderful elephant nursery, the only one in Zimbabwe, and I wanted to do all I could to help, in any way possible. And so…… Ahmandla was born!

Why start with Jewelry?

I chose to start my company with animal jewelry pieces because it was something that I found myself constantly searching for online. Whether it was an elephant necklace or a giraffe ring, I was always looking for a way to express my love for animals, and it was hard to find high-end animal pieces. I believe that jewelry is a lovely and subtle way of expressing who you are, what you love, and what you may support. And it could also simply just be a piece you thought was stunning and wanted to wear. So, why not start a company that not only encompasses all of those things, but also makes a difference in the conservation and charity world? Not to mention, its a great conversation starter, to spread awareness about our wildlife conservation efforts!

What's in a name?

After multiple name changes, I chose to name the company “Ahmandla” after the Zulu word  which means “power”. I want my company to represent strength, power and love. We need all 3, if we want to save our precious planet and our beautiful wildlife that depend on it.

So, thank you for your support and I look forward to making a difference in this world with you.

Lisa