Their lives depend on the talent they possess and their hands produce the "magic" that captivates travellers along the Mogobane-Ranaka road. The two men operate by the road side, but unlike multitudes of their fellow countrymen who normally sit along major roads in urban centres waiting for someone to offer a piece job these two work there to produce art works, which have become their livelihood.By the roadside, just on the right side junction into Ranaka, stands a small clay brick structure (kiln) with a chimney. Next to it is a corrugated iron "workshop" where Zulu and Nyande spend hours working different types of clay pieces ranging from large flower pots to small ash trays and jewellery containers.
From the workshop, the grey pieces are baked inside the kiln to dry them from where they come out brown. But the two men do not only rely on the natural processes, which change the clay from grey to brown. They further express their artistic talent with different types of decorations and colours on their products. Zulu and Nyande learnt the trade back in Zimbabwe and have not done any other job since they entered Botswana. Years back, they plied their trade in Palapye. Nyande said pottery, like any other art work, is not taught but is a talent that can be nurtured.
