WHERE WE WORK
BOTSWANA
The Crafthood Programme
Under the Crafthood Programme, Arts for Africa works with several basketry groups in the vicinity of Maun and along the Okavango pan-handle in Northern Botswana. Basketry continues to play a central role in sustaining households in a region where drought, disease and isolation threatens these communities more than ever before.
The Crafthood programme was launched by Travel for Impact with seed funding from Southern African Regional Environmental Program (SAREP) and is now jointly coordinated with Arts for Africa in a united effort to create a centralized marketing and sales platform for basket weavers along the fringes of the Okavango Delta. The aim is to support the weavers (and their families) in establishing independent, sustainable livelihoods. This is being done through workshops, revamping of craft centres and trade aid. Through the Crafthood programme, we have established close ties with 5 weaver groups and hundreds of affiliated crafters in an effort to stimulate responsible trade of their products. Baskets are also bought occasionally from weavers in other villages, such as Nxamasere.
Contributing weavers:
Amogelang
Gaseboloke
Goratamang
Magatalina James
Poroka
Tumonene Kamavoko
Contributing weavers:
Kayena Shoshoma
Kudiyapo
Kunyanda Ngave
Kunyima Kutenda
Kushamona Kamavoko
Kushamuna Ngwavi
Kuyena Dikona
Mavanje Nakare
Moshova Kahikira
Owadi Mmereki
Owadi Shoshoma
Selinda Mokonda
Contributing weavers:
Bosigo Nyiro
Kamberuka Nyama
Mangonga Nyama
Mangonga Maria
Marero Kefilwe
Mashando Moambwa
Mopambo Marima
Nangora James
Ngondo Moyo
Shamba Shangete
Shangete Osaleng
Shangete Yamanetha
Thimbomboro Mukanjo
Thizombo Mafo
Yamanitha Shangete
Contribiting weavers:
Nametemba Kefilwe
Contributing weavers:
Tutene Karembo
Together with a group of 500 women, Katenya is proud of the first class baskets they make. This skill they have learned from their ancestors.
The Ngamiland Basket Weaver Trust strives to make the basket weavers more (financially) independent. Etsha 6 is just one of the isolated villages in the area that is supported by this initiative.
Contributing weavers:
Gaone Yatwiya
Kakove Sekafure
Kandimba Thipafure
Katawa Makere
Kathiku Thiyave
Kavumba Kavanga
Kayane Kaye
Kebonye Thona
Kelebogile Kushuka
Kunyanda
Lekgoa Ruambo
Makena Mitiri
Manjodi Kamberuka
Marothi Tebogo
Matumbo Kandunda
Mbambo Makena
Moengere
Moruwero Maria
Moshinga Thidhimba
Moshova Ratakwenya
Motsamai Kagiso
Moya Sekwenje
Nangana Sekwenje
Nangura
Norea Yene
Numba Shamwake
Shamarongo Ngombe
Tuere
Yamanitha
Contributing weavers:
Kambato Kavura
Thobo James
Contributing weavers:
Ohatu Mboma
The Shakawe craft centre was initiated in April 2013, with a mandate for centralizing & displaying the craft and culture of those living in and around the village. The centre also serves as a selling point for those talented women who live in remote areas.
This project impacts hundreds of talented weavers and the families they support. Onameditse (pictured) lives on the outskirts of Shakawe. She is one of many talented women who benefits from the sale of baskets. She also tends the shop.
Contributing weavers:
Bohetile Boihuto
Kakemo Thao
Kangura Juku
Konyanda Dinyando
Kuchira Disho
Kuchira Mate
Kuyanda Dinyando
Lorato Kanjimi
Maitlhamako Kamanga
Makena
Mangura Ben
Mantaga
Mazara Wilson
Mokohonge Kakwenga
Mokuhengu
Mosadimongwe Bagogowe
Moshova Kakwenya
Moshova Moshanya
Mukuhengu
Nangura Makushe
Oria Guru
Rukunde Kaotla
Soyi Thapelo
Thimona Mosheti
Ngwao Boswa or ‘Culture is Heritage’, was founded by 10 woman living in Gumare Village in the Ngamiland District. Mosipidi is a proud member of Ngwao Boswa, which has grown to include over 65 registered members.
Not only does the centre provide a platform for basket weaving and crafts but it also facilitates a necessary meeting place for these woman to gather, as they navigate the celebrations and hardships of rural life, together.
Contributing weavers:
Biopheto Mothusiemang
Boikhusto Kuisa
Boithoko Jeremiah
Gaolathwe
Gaopalelwe Shomanah
Gonalemang Sefitlholo
Gorewamang Samasonga
Gosongwang Odirile
Gothusamang Sasepa
KapangoDiyenda
Karesaza Baleofi
Karumbu Ngonga
Kathiku Jack
Kebonyemetsi
Leheditse
Lekopanye Jeremiah
Letlelamang Machobane
Letshabamang Ebutswe
Makea Mothaedi
Marea Mothaedi
Mmaddijo Shimwe
Moanaro Mmereki
Mogaetsho Kurusha
Mogaetsho Tsile
Obonye Sefo
Ogopoleng Gaseyo
Oroleng
Rombe
Ruhepo
Selena
Seline Sarefo
Shangano
Thimona
Tshego Foremani
Zeta Olehile
Amongst the 43 registered members, Doris (pictured) and Ranolang realise the potential of craft to support their household income and uplift the livelihoods of the entire community.
Although this group was founded in 1995, the recent input into the Shorobe baskets co-operative has generated fresh inspiration for the predominantly female heads of households that it supports.
Contributing weavers:
Botsang Galesiewe
Lemogang Mutumisi
Letelangmang Keabetswe
Ranolang Keorapetse
Rukunde
Rumono
Seipone Kgari
Thopo Shangwena
Bina, Moya, Numba, Mathive and Kapunda make up part of the Boseja weavers group in Maun. They are very dedicated, passing the skill on to others in their community.
The Boseja woman are highly skilled in weaving and have been making baskets for many years. For the time being, this talented group is informal and operates without a craft centre.
Contributing weavers:
Kambathi Nangana
Kapande Ndara
Keadimilwe Dimbo
Kebologetswe Sakutia
Kenewe Odumeleng
Kushamuna
Maapeo Samende
Mathive
Moya Rata
Numba Makushe
Paheme
Thikoneko Kupeka
Contributing weavers:
Lesedi Rukunde
Contributing weavers:
Matshido Israel
Travel for Impact
Travel for Impact’s understanding of life in the rural communities has enabled Arts for Africa to work alongside hundreds of crafters; it has also allowed us to move forward on a basis of trust and a sense of common purpose. We now know the traditional stories behind each basket design, the name of each weaver and the village she lives in. This adds so much more meaning to the baskets we sell. Travel for Impact is more than a partner. We have come to consider them as an extension of our team. For more information, please visit the Travel for impact website.
ZIMBABWE
The Tonga Programme
In northern Zimbabwe, Arts for Africa reaches out to isolated rural commities in Binga and Hwange through the Tonga Programme. Binga is one of the most critical districts in the Matabeleland North Province, with food poverty levels up to 48% in certain regions. The Tonga basket weavers are amongst the poorest communities in Binga.
The Tonga Programme reaches out to numerous small homesteads hidden deep in the bush in the districts of Binga and Hwange. Our work here is challenging because the tracks that lead to these isolated communities deteriorate considerably during the wet season. The Tonga weavers we work with have not (yet) established cooperatives and as most weavers lack the means to travel to towns such as Hwange and Victoria Falls to sell their baskets, they depend heavily on the programme for income. Thus far, we have been able to reach out to the villages of Chibhala, Mdingura, Depota, Manjolo, Tinde, Chilelema, Nsenga and Mabale.
Contributing weavers:
Abigail Munge
Agnes Mwembe
Alice Mumpande
Bessie Mudimba
Busy Munsaka
Chipo Muleya
Jane Munera
Janet Mwembe
Lucy Mwembe
Luzibo Muleya
Regina Muleya
Contributing weavers:
Angeline
Chipo
Dolica
Dorothy Sibolela
Dorotthy Sibanda
Esnat
Joice Nolovu
Limani
Mai Sharon Laniwati
Maria
Milliam
Monica Banda
Rosemary
Patricia
Shengisiwe
Siphiwe
Skholiwe
Sthokozile
Stshengisiwe
Tecla
Zondiwe Ntontola
Contributing weavers:
Alice Mudimba
Dorica Muleya
Elizabeth Muleya
Emma Mutale
Esnath Muleya
Georgina Mwinde
Grace Mudenda
Jane Munenge
Lydia Mutale
Jerina Mudenda
Lessy Muleya
Lydia Mutale
Margaret Ndlovu
Mary Munsaka
Mukuli Muganda
Naly Mwinde
Rebecca Munkombwe
Saliya Mudimba
Contributing weavers:
Catharina Munsaka
Emma Sibanda
Florence Muleya
Lucia Ncube
Monica Mudimba
Sekani Sibelo
Sifiso Nyathi
Contributing weavers:
Lydia Mweembe
Contributing weavers:
Maria Shoko
Tani Shoko
Veronica Shoko
Contributing weavers:
Beritha Muleya
Bina Muchina
Common Chilelema
Florence
Esinathi Dube
Getrude Tshuma
Lilian
Nation Shoko
Sabina Nyoni
Sali Mudenda
Sofia Nyoini
Tshenyiswe
Violet Muleya
Violet Ndebele
Meet Happie
Happie coordinates the Tonga Programme in Zimbabwe. With unique insight knowledge of the whereabouts of talented weavers and the challenges they face, Happie has been instrumental in the success of the programme. Her sheer determination to help the Tonga people and showcase their exquisite basketry has enabled us to reach out to many impoverished and isolated communities across the region.
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