Picture-perfect: Woza Moya supports local artist
Woza Moya is calling all creatives to come and get their waistcoat for R50, decorate it and then submit it for their Christmas exhibition and sale.
THOLAKELE Mbambo is showcasing her work on the Woza Moya Artists’ Wall for the month of November.
The concept behind the Woza Moya Artists’ Wall and Artists’ Cards is to create and showcase the work of artists who have been hard-hit by Covid. Each month, a different artist is paid to paint a 1.2m x 1.2m wall panel which is displayed on the wall outside the Woza Moya Hillcrest AIDS Centre shop.
Woza Moya is the economic empowerment project of the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust and assists the artist by marketing their work for the entire month their work is on display. A greeting card is made of the painted wall panel and sold in their shops so the artists can earn an ongoing passive income. This has worked well with artists earning from R200 to R1 000 a month from the sale of the cards.The Woza Moya Artists wall would like to thank the 100% Foundation for coming on board for an ongoing sponsorship and making this monthly event.
About the artist
Mbambo taught herself beadwork after seeing family members bead, and she found that she had a natural talent. She is only one of a handful of bead workers who can bead on three dimensional objects like teapots and shoes which need the tension changed as one beads – very few crafters are able to do this.
Historically, beaded waistcoats were very popular in the 1940s and 50s and were used in weddings and ceremonies, but the tradition died off and now only vintage examples remain. There is an amazing collection of traditional waistcoats at Amazulu Palace in Kloof.
Also read: Artists paint pictures for feral cats
Woza Moya’s Paula Thomson said they wanted to revive this old tradition and commissioned Mbambo to make a waistcoat.
“Tholakele has been beading with Woza Moya for more than 22 years and was one of the original carers and crafters. She is a community leader and works as a voluntary home-based carer in her community in times when there aren’t a lot of bead orders. She is also involved in the Gogo
Support Groups. She contributed to build a hall with and for the Gogos where they meet every Wednesday and do beadwork, sewing and crocheting.
In addition, Thomson said Mbambo is also passionate about Zulu Traditions and trains youngsters to do traditional Zulu dancing and beadwork.
“Tholakele’s Waistcoat created quite a stir, and several beaders have now brought in waistcoats which inspired us to plan an exhibition of waistcoats on December 10 in our upstairs gallery. We have also opened it up to the community to decorate a waistcoat using any creative means!”
Join in the fun!
Woza Moya is calling all creatives to come and get their waistcoat for R50, decorate it and then submit it for their Christmas exhibition and sale – all waistcoats should be delivered before the December 5 and will go up on exhibition in the upstairs gallery for the month of December and January!
Shop opening times:
Woza Moya is based at the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust, 26 Old Main Road, in Hillcrest, and is open from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:00, and from 09:00 to 17:00 at the Woza Moya Windermere Centre. On Saturdays, the HACT shop is open from 08:00 to 14:00 and from 09:00 to 14:00 at Windermere.
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