15 July 2021
Online Traditional Homecraft Kits
It is with huge gratitude to the National Lottery Commission that the Handmade Trust has been able to manifest our online traditional handcraft teaching platform.
Through their generous funding and support we have been able to get a team of local crafters, filmmakers and designers together in order to create this pioneering channel. Through this innovation we look forward to bridging many keen learners to the heritage of skill and knowledge that still lives in many our our diverse communities in South Africa.
A huge thank you to our collaborating crafters Nowongile Swebe and Regina Gingqishe.
Thank you for joining us on this journey and being a part of the movement of 'heritage in your hands'.
Watch this space.
Through their generous funding and support we have been able to get a team of local crafters, filmmakers and designers together in order to create this pioneering channel. Through this innovation we look forward to bridging many keen learners to the heritage of skill and knowledge that still lives in many our our diverse communities in South Africa.
A huge thank you to our collaborating crafters Nowongile Swebe and Regina Gingqishe.
Thank you for joining us on this journey and being a part of the movement of 'heritage in your hands'.
Watch this space.
1 May 2020
Honeywood Farm Harvest Partnership
As the demand for traditional handcraft classes grow we also have to ensure the sustainable growing and harvesting of the indigenous plant materials used in the process.
Honeywood Farm situated in the Langeberg, Western cape, have partnered up with us in initiating a pilot 'Sedge' (Cyperus Textilus) growing and harvest project. The farm currently has an abundance of Sedge growing along the river systems that run through the property. Together we have developed a planting and sustainable harvesting plan.
Currently 4 local farm workers are being trained in this work developing them and their knowledge in order to eventually start their own craft materials growing business.
Honeywood Farm situated in the Langeberg, Western cape, have partnered up with us in initiating a pilot 'Sedge' (Cyperus Textilus) growing and harvest project. The farm currently has an abundance of Sedge growing along the river systems that run through the property. Together we have developed a planting and sustainable harvesting plan.
Currently 4 local farm workers are being trained in this work developing them and their knowledge in order to eventually start their own craft materials growing business.
5-8 March 2020
SpiritFest 2020
The Handmade Trust participated in the annual SpiritFest which is held near Swellendam in the Western Cape.
We took the opportunity to make available Pondo style basket weaving and mat making lessons available to the festival goers. The Handmade team which included, Doda Situpa all the way from Xolobeni, were able to teach over 50 excited learners of all ages.
A major success and proof of concept that traditional handcraft lessons have great relevance is creative social gatherings.
We took the opportunity to make available Pondo style basket weaving and mat making lessons available to the festival goers. The Handmade team which included, Doda Situpa all the way from Xolobeni, were able to teach over 50 excited learners of all ages.
A major success and proof of concept that traditional handcraft lessons have great relevance is creative social gatherings.
5 December 2019
Senzokwethu Old Age Project
Handmade made our way back to the Pondoland area of Baleni, Xolobeni.
We had the privilege of visiting a community initiative in the area that makes the use of traditional handcraft as a therapy to keep the elderly of the community in healthy mind and body. The twice weekly held handcraft club allows these community members to socialise, be creative, enjoy a cooked nutritious meal and also make a bit of income from the amazing crafts they create.
Feel free to contact Mr. S. Mtwa - 073 159 9926 if you are able to support with any funding.
We had the privilege of visiting a community initiative in the area that makes the use of traditional handcraft as a therapy to keep the elderly of the community in healthy mind and body. The twice weekly held handcraft club allows these community members to socialise, be creative, enjoy a cooked nutritious meal and also make a bit of income from the amazing crafts they create.
Feel free to contact Mr. S. Mtwa - 073 159 9926 if you are able to support with any funding.
20-24 September 2019
Earthskills Gathering 2019
Handmade was selected as apart of the 2019 pioneering Earthskills handcraft event.
The Handmade team consisting of Doda Situpa, Cromwell Sonjica, Nicola Lazenby and Carlos Francisco facilitated the teaching of two AmaPondo crafting disciplines. Inceke (basket) weaving and ukhukho (mat) making. It was the first encounter for almost all participating festival goers to come into touch with these skills.
A wonderful event with so much potential. We will be there next year for sure!
The Handmade team consisting of Doda Situpa, Cromwell Sonjica, Nicola Lazenby and Carlos Francisco facilitated the teaching of two AmaPondo crafting disciplines. Inceke (basket) weaving and ukhukho (mat) making. It was the first encounter for almost all participating festival goers to come into touch with these skills.
A wonderful event with so much potential. We will be there next year for sure!
23 September 2019
Afrofest and Iziko South Africa Museum collaboration
The Handmade team were very excited to demonstrate heritage amaXhosa basket weaving to the public on South African Heritage day. Victoria Rilasi and Victoria taught introductory skills to many people and also introduced them to typical traditional amaXhosa handcrafts. It was a perfect partnership with two amazing organisations invested in celebrating South African heritage. Thank you Afrofest and Iziko South African museum.
10 July 2018
The Pondoland Expedition
Handmade visited communities in the greater Xolobeni region to locate traditional hand-crafters, form partnerships and record hand-craft methodology.
Handmade mutually set an agenda with local community leaders and youth to investigate how traditional crafting can connect with local tourism efforts:
Together we work-shopped the viability of creating craft masterclasses around 4 traditional amaPondo craft disciplines:
- Ukhukho (traditional food preparation mat)
- Isitya Sukapuza (traditional beer drinking basket)
- AmaPondo Inceke (small basket)
- Traditional carrying bag
- Imbejo – grass bracelets
Investigated local facilities, resources and skills available in order to propose and create a Cultural Craft immersion trip for schools and tourists. The goal to enable local income generation and cross cultural nation building.
Early discussions with the youth were started aiming at the development of an annual traditional amaPondo Craft Festival in the area.
Exciting times in Xolobeni as we were able to note a growing cultural revival with renewed interest in traditional knowledge and crafting skills.
Handmade mutually set an agenda with local community leaders and youth to investigate how traditional crafting can connect with local tourism efforts:
Together we work-shopped the viability of creating craft masterclasses around 4 traditional amaPondo craft disciplines:
- Ukhukho (traditional food preparation mat)
- Isitya Sukapuza (traditional beer drinking basket)
- AmaPondo Inceke (small basket)
- Traditional carrying bag
- Imbejo – grass bracelets
Investigated local facilities, resources and skills available in order to propose and create a Cultural Craft immersion trip for schools and tourists. The goal to enable local income generation and cross cultural nation building.
Early discussions with the youth were started aiming at the development of an annual traditional amaPondo Craft Festival in the area.
Exciting times in Xolobeni as we were able to note a growing cultural revival with renewed interest in traditional knowledge and crafting skills.
18 February 2018
Urban Weaving Class pilot
Handmade established partnerships with 3 urban traditional Xhosa weavers in the Cape Town area with the idea of co-creating and making available traditional Xhosa weaving classes to the public.
Together we researched method on how to formalise the group teaching of traditional Xhosa basket weaving.
Handmade was instrumental in supplying start up teaching tools and props for classes, locating sources of weaving material, securing and marketing the classes and ensuring transport to the urban weavers.
Our first 6 formal public traditional weaving classes included:
- Afrofest African Festival 2018(Observatory, Cape Town)
- Greenpop Reforest Fest 2018(Gaansbaai, WC)
- CIEE (Rondebosch,Cape Town)
- Earthskills Workshop (Constantia, Cape Town)
- Norval Foundation Art Gallery (Constantia, Cape Town)
The realisation of these classes have opened up the possibility of teaching traditional crafting as an income generating activity for urban weavers. The classes are proving to be important in cross cultural commonalities building and inspiring local urban communities to be participants in heritage custodians.
Within our 6 classes have taught Xhosa basket weaving basics to over 50 adults and children.
Together we researched method on how to formalise the group teaching of traditional Xhosa basket weaving.
Handmade was instrumental in supplying start up teaching tools and props for classes, locating sources of weaving material, securing and marketing the classes and ensuring transport to the urban weavers.
Our first 6 formal public traditional weaving classes included:
- Afrofest African Festival 2018(Observatory, Cape Town)
- Greenpop Reforest Fest 2018(Gaansbaai, WC)
- CIEE (Rondebosch,Cape Town)
- Earthskills Workshop (Constantia, Cape Town)
- Norval Foundation Art Gallery (Constantia, Cape Town)
The realisation of these classes have opened up the possibility of teaching traditional crafting as an income generating activity for urban weavers. The classes are proving to be important in cross cultural commonalities building and inspiring local urban communities to be participants in heritage custodians.
Within our 6 classes have taught Xhosa basket weaving basics to over 50 adults and children.
10 August 2017
The sub-saharan expedition
Expedition through Namibia, Zambia, Malawi and Botswana to meet with traditional handcrafters and record their abilities.
Through this journey we established connections with several crafters and crafting organisations. Our focus was mainly on 3 hand-crafters in Northern Malawi.
*3 full length videos were recorded with the Tumbuka community:
- Chimphani (clay storage vessel)
- Thuli and musi (maize meal pounder)
- Chiphyelelo (palm leaf broom)
*Agreement was formed that video recordings of traditional crafting demonstration are under Traditional Knowledge License – Community have joint ownership over the existing video recordings and photographs
Through this journey we established connections with several crafters and crafting organisations. Our focus was mainly on 3 hand-crafters in Northern Malawi.
*3 full length videos were recorded with the Tumbuka community:
- Chimphani (clay storage vessel)
- Thuli and musi (maize meal pounder)
- Chiphyelelo (palm leaf broom)
*Agreement was formed that video recordings of traditional crafting demonstration are under Traditional Knowledge License – Community have joint ownership over the existing video recordings and photographs
15 November 2016
The first Handmade expedition
The beginnings of our project. We headed out into the rural region of the Eastern Cape in South Africa to engage with local traditional crafters. It is the realisation of an indigenous knowledge preservation initiative. Primarily comprehensive video recordings of traditional crafting demonstrations.
A humbling, relationship building experience with future generations in mind.
Partnerships with 12 hand-crafters was established
Photographic records and physical examples of their crafts were collected.
*4 full length videos of crafting methodolgy were recorded:
- Isithebe Sinyanga (food preparation mat)
- Umtshayelo isando (traditional palm broom)
- Imgqalathi (traditional walking stick)
- Inceke (small traditional basket)
*Agreement was formed that video recordings of traditional crafting demonstration are under Traditional Knowledge License – Community have joint ownership over the existing video recordings and photographs
A humbling, relationship building experience with future generations in mind.
Partnerships with 12 hand-crafters was established
Photographic records and physical examples of their crafts were collected.
*4 full length videos of crafting methodolgy were recorded:
- Isithebe Sinyanga (food preparation mat)
- Umtshayelo isando (traditional palm broom)
- Imgqalathi (traditional walking stick)
- Inceke (small traditional basket)
*Agreement was formed that video recordings of traditional crafting demonstration are under Traditional Knowledge License – Community have joint ownership over the existing video recordings and photographs
