Boksburg thrives with talented artists

Ubomi Ngumzamo is a training centre for those willing to learn a certain craft, while it also serves as an exhibition centre for craft work.

One of the general objectives of the centre is to promote the arts of crafts in the city, while also empowering others to become entrepreneurs by creating craft for the purpose of making a living out of it.

Violet Ntibane launched the training centre, and has in the meantime formed a team of craftsperson who have each mastered their own craft. They include Louis Chamane, and Richard Ngojo.

Violet is a dressmaker and business woman, who has an avid interest in making anything and uses her craft skills to promote South African history and culture.

Most of her dresses are used for dances, rituals or celebrations.

Violet, who originally hails from the Eastern Cape, has a long history of working creatively.

She says, as a child, she was surrounded by craftspersons and dressmakers, including her mother, and she was happy to watch them work.

“I began to make things when I was still a child, making dolls and cloths for them. This is how I became hooked on dressmaking,” she says.

“From that point on I knew that this was the career for me. I developed my skills through lots of trial and error, attending workshops and collaborating with highly-skilled artists.”

Violet is a founding member of several craft centres in Boksburg and Vosloorus.

Today, she is an experienced designer and dressmaker who delights in helping others to design and make their own, unique products.

Her work focuses largely on indigenous traditional products, making use of beads and a variety of textiles, including animal skins.

Her work includes traditional Nguni and Sotho clothing, beadwork, African beaded dolls, cooking utensils and handcrafted African traditional cushions.

Her versatility has also allowed her to develop a unique range of other products, including baby clothes and handbags.

Violet’s knowledge and her desire to pass on her passion for the craft led her to open the training centre.

Woodcarver, Louis Chamane (57), of Ramaphosa informal settlement, creates stunning art pieces of wooden people to tell interesting stories.

He is an excellent woodcarver and he applies his talent to earn a living.

Originally from KwaZulu-Natal, Louis began his crafting career from an early age.

“Formally, my works was focused on drawing women carrying their babies, because I celebrate the role they play in the community and at home,” says Louis.

However, after realising that he has a talent in art, Louis then took to the art of designing and producing sculptural artwork, making wooden people.

He viewed his previous drawing work as merely blueprints for sculpting.

“My love of creativity and craftsmanship then pulled me into a lifelong career of mastering crafting, and today, I am proud to say I’m a master craftsman.”

Louis says it all started as a hobby, but it has become a source of income for him, since a lot of people are impressed with his products.

One of his most recent projects include wooden pieces of hand-carved mine workers, which tells a story about mining.

For Louis, carving is simple. He finds the right tree, cuts it down, mills the wood and creates a beautiful story.

Though he does not have any formal training, after years of experience working in a variety of woodwork in product development, he wants to pass his skills onto others.

He says he is usually pleased when he sees his final product complete. But he likes the carving process the most.

“You get involved and you don’t think about anything else. Some people find it stressful, but I find it relaxing.

“I like to work with wood and I love people, so it brings all the things I like together in one art form.”

Louis displays his artwork at the centre, and his products are then sold for between R6 000 and R8 000.

Richard Ngojo (57), born in Diepkloof Zone 6, who then relocated to Boksburg, started sculpting in 1977 as a hobby.

He, however, quickly fell in love with the industry.

This experienced sculptor from Boksburg South transforms old newspapers into inspiring images of most of the big five animals of Africa.

He says it all started when he was still young, drawing pictures for his school stories.

He later realised that he could also sculpt stunning animals.

“I started by producing unique wooden sculptures, including striking figures of animals people and objects. During that time my work was just for entertainment purposes, until I later realised that this was my God-gifted talent.

“I then stopped using heavy materials like rocks, clay and wood to create my products. I started to use old newspapers to create these stunning heads of animals.”

He has donated some of his work to NGOs, including a sculpture of Nelson Mandela, which he donated to the Mandela Foundation.

Today people can order exactly what they want and I can make it for them.

His work is on display at the centre.

“My craft has helped me put food on the table,” says Richard.

Richard intends to continue sculpting and empower the youth in the crafty.