African Found Objects: iNkwenkwezi

Begun as a hobby in 1992, this home industry was created out of a desire to create a more African style of safety pin bracelets using recycled materials. We achieved this by using telephone-wire off-cut, computer-cable scraps and pieces of throw-out plastic tubing. We now also incorporate old soda cans wrapped around the pins.

After moving from the seaside city of Durban to the financial city of Johannesburg, there was a huge increase in the demand for our designs, so we employed 2 full-time people. We work hard to maintain excellent quality, with interesting textures and color combinations and very importantly, keep an eye on fashion.

iNkwenkwezi - a name suggested by the workers, refers to a special star that appears over Africa prior to the plowing season. It is hopeful, always looking forward to a rich harvest. The 5 people who work for iNkwenkwezi are dependent on sales in order to support themselves, their immediate families and, often, the extended family.

Black Africans are very family-orientated and community-minded. After paying all expenses (the major item being the wages), the profit is less than $500 for the year! Funds are used to pay for the components and the workers for their pieces. I continue with the home industry primarily to offer employment to a few people. The workers work from home, mostly, coming to me on a Thursday to deliver, be paid and get more materials and instructions.

The Team:

I, Nigel, am an Anglican priest. The home industry is not officially connected to the church or my work as a priest; however, I believe we should be doing as much as possible to alleviate the high unemployment problem and poverty. It gives people so much dignity to be able to work, and to produce good-quality, highly desirable products that are in demand all over the world. My wife, Gill, is involved with me in quality control.

Cynthia Sobekwa (40), helps making bracelets. She comes from a rural area in the Eastern Cape called Mkapusi. She is Xhosa-speaking and was raised by her mother, as her father died before she turned 2. Her childhood was spent playing with the children of the community, making clay dolls and using old clothes; also cars with wire and cows with clay. They looked after cattle and sheep, cooked, fetched water, cleaned the house, washed clothes, helped with the planting and hoeing and attended school. Cynthia finished her schooling in 1982 and came to Johannesburg looking, as she says, for "green pastures". She has worked at a restaurant, then as a receptionist, afterwards as a nurse. She had three children, but one died in 2002. Cynthia says: "I would like to be financially free one day because I would like to upgrade my community. I would like to see tourists coming to my community and creating jobs for jobless people there."

Xolisa Michael Sobekwa (28), is Cynthia’s nephew and was raised by her, while his mother worked in the city. He also finished school, but couldn't continue with his studies because his parents did not have money for this. He could not find work in Port Elizabeth or Cape Town, and then Cynthia recommended him to me. Xolisa says: "I love my job because it is everything to me. I can pay my rent, buy clothes, buy food...everything depends on it. I am busy paying my lobola (traditional payment to the father of the bride). He now has two children and the income allows him to support his family. He is still paying off the bride price.

“We all thank you for buying our products and making a small investment in Africa”

Xolisa, his wife Nosiseko & his sons

Cynthia

Linda Toto

Xoliswa (Mavis)