Mdukatshani - Fifty Years of Beading

Natty Duma (right) lived at Waayhoek, but worked at Mdukatshani, acting as organiser and go-between on her regular visits to help set up the garden at Mbulwana.

Lucy Mabotha and Ellen Mokoena were the caring leaders of Mbulwana. Hardship had taught them compassion, and they helped to share out the food start the garden and organize the mbenge craft project.

Ellen working on a basket outside her tent.

Mbenges

When Tessa visited Mbulwana in July 1988 she was already looking for alternatives to telephone wire and had started experimenting with fine gauge industrial copper wire used for machine windings – an improbable material for craft. She had brought some to the farm to test the beaders. Yes, it was hard on the hands, but she wanted them to try some copper bangles. The same weaves as the grass? She knew the joins would be difficult, but if they left the ends unfinished, she would take the bangles home with her and work something out. The women tried, but they hated the copper. It was hard and unyielding and blistered their hands. Although they made what Tessa asked for, they resisted the change. It was easier to work with needles and thread, and they missed the colour of the beads. It would be nine years before they tried copper bangles again. We saw less of Tessa as her involvement with Waayhoek grew. Within weeks of her first visit she had a craft group going and the people of Mbulwana were learning to use their hands. She took them on fully aware of the risk. She wasn’t going to justify her actions. She worked alone using her own resources. The losses involved she would carry herself. Within three years the work was on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and Tessa was adapting the traditional imbenge baskets to new materials, new weaves. She worked with Dr. Tony Cunningham, World Plant Officer for Africa, studying the intricacies of baskets collected across the continent, baskets made with bark, grass, leaf, root. What would the baskets look like in copper? She taught herself to weave so she could understand the difficulties and adapt.

Mdukatshani – Fifty Years of Beading

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