Culture-Mad Kobe Carves Niche In Tanning Business
Lindiwe Mozola | Monday March 27, 2017 16:16
But for Gaolathe Kobe, there is more to culture and this motivated him to start his thriving leather tanning and beading business.
The Molepolole-born 32-year-old discovered his love for arts at an early age when he was involved in traditional music in school as a dancer and a singer.
This then led him to venture into a business that will preserve his love for tradition as well as promote culture.
After completing his secondary school education he never looked back as he enrolled into one of the government’s art training centre, Impala Rural Training Centre, for free since it was an empowerment scheme by the Government.
“This is where I honed my skills for craft work such as leather tanning, beading, carving and many others. After completing the cource, I then established my own business, Da Tau Beads & Leather Works through Youth Development Funding (YDF) at the tune of P89,000,” he said.
The business involves sewing leather bags, shoes, belts, traditional attire, wallets, wristbands and beading traditional necklaces and bracelets.
The business, which is located in Selebi-Phikwe used to get raw material sfrom the BCL Mine in the form of used conveyer belts, which he recycled to make leather shoes and belts.
“Since the closure of BCL Mine, the business has been struggling as I recycled the conveyer belts used by the miners to make my leather products. Since its closure, production has declined and the materials can now be found only at one shop in Gaborone, which has put strain on my business due to travelling costs,” he said.
He said besides the common tanning agents, he also uses natural resources such as trees and sorghum residues, a process known as vegetable tanning, for tanning leather.
Kobe said challenges threatening his business are a lack of market in Selebi-Phikwe ever since the Mine was closed and the expensive materials.
He hopes that the Government gives him additional funds to expand the business and establishing a workshop; currently he is operating in a place he was given by the council, which he said does not have enough space hence limiting his production.
Kobe also trains people in leather tanning. He has trained poverty eradication beneficiaries and students at Moepeng Community Secondary School in Selebi-Phikwe on their art projects.
The father of one said that he aspires to train more students especially at primary schools so that they have a better understanding of their culture and that one can make a living out of art. He advised other aspiring craftsmen that the industry has many challenges, however with passion and perseverance it is possible to make a living out of it.