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Artists
Telephone wire weaving originated among Zulu night watchmen working as migrant
labor on the Reef gold mines during the apartheid years. To pass the long hours
they would recall their distinctive tribal designs to weave scraps of telephone
wire into colorful decorations for knobkerries (traditional
night-sticks) and izimbenges (beer pot lids). These Zulu craftsmen, huddled around the night
fire, pioneered the art of telephone wire weaving. Today both men and women
skillfully weave bowls and platters in an explosion of color and intricate
design – each one a unique work of art and a vibrant new take on the
age-old tradition of beading and grass-weaving.
Our artists are a community group, and they pass on their skills and stories
from generation to generation. Weaving is done at home, allowing the women to
care for their families while earning a sustainable income; many are the sole
breadwinners.
Several artists within the group have received international recognition for
their weaving. Their work can be found in collections and
exhibitions worldwide.
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