Ian Glenny was interviewed by CNN International for Inside Africa.
Inside Africa, CNN International followed the trail of South Africa’s Midlands Meander in rural Kwa-Zulu to explore how the province, once renowned for its agricultural product, is best known now for the community created by a group of artists and craftsmen.
Potter Ian Glenny remembers how 30 years ago a simple idea created South Africa’s longest art trail.
He tells CNN: “I first came through here and it was all dirt, then we drove through and I looked down in this valley and I thought that’s where I want to live and die… The whole thing started at the Mill, we had supper there one night and decided we needed to get together, find a name and start advertising…. It’s grown and grown. I think it’s about 180 members now.”
The lives of locals in the Midlands Meander was in the spotlight last week as Inside Africa, CNN International followed the trail of the lives of those who are opening doors to diversity and tourism in this picturesque part of the KwaZulu-Natal.
A collaboration of craftsmen and artists have helped the Midlands Meander in South Africa continue to grow and diversify while still maintaining its roots in crafts, ceramists, woodwork and metal work.
Theresa Sizakhela, who works at Shuttleworth Weaving in the valley praises the work, saying: “The Midlands Meander has definitely contributed to the jobs in the area… we’ve managed to raise up to three generations of our family through working here.”
Barry Downard, a metal worker and photographer at the Midlands Meander believes the tourism brought to the area has a lot to do with its creative community as people are drawn to the beauty of the region.
Fee Halsted of Ardmore Ceramics tells African Voices that the products they make in the small factory in the Midlands Meander sell to a global audience:
“It’s worldwide. We’ve even sold to Alaska… we sell all over the world… The French adore Ardmore and of course London- because the world is in London.”
Ms Halsted goes on to explain how the artists were originally women until men began to see the benefits of the work they did.
“It was interesting how the herd boys, the young boys thought that the women’s work was not proper work and then they realised that the woman folk were earning more than they were… So, you’ve got husbands, wives, sisters, cousins, and now we enter the second generation, where we have daughters, and of course the mums or fathers want their children off their payroll quickly, so they teach them.”
For the last 26 years, the Midlands Meander has hosted the Hilton Arts Festival, which draws together seasoned and upcoming artists and crafters.
Now, the Midlands Meander is home to a cross-section of well-established and internationally renowned crafters, restaurants and hotels.
Amanda McCarthy, founder of Groundcover, The Leather Company says: “The Midlands community, I think really is that, it’s a community and it’s grown up together with people coming to the area and because it’s grown together people support each other…
“If one of us does well, we all do well, and I think that’s what’s built the amazing community that we are part of.”
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