Maitisong Festival’s All Day Crafts Market, served as a one-stop shop, where they could buy their favourite crafts, be it souvenir, or ornaments to decorate their homes.
The one-day open market held at Thapong Visual Arts Centre boasted of a variety of items, which included jewellery, baskets, small wooden sculptures, clay pots, and clothing just to mention a few. The popular festival afforded local crafts men and women an opportunity to sell their products to the public.
Those who came showed keen interest in the different stalls, and people could be seen walking out with a few items.
The open market was competing for audience with the popular Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Day, which resulted in the event not being well attended.
The few people who turned up, however, showed a lot of interest in the goods, especially artifacts, and practical items such as hot pot and plate mats.
Exhibitors included products from Homegirl Workshop, which prides itself in handmade products, which include bottle top fridge magnets, badges and earrings.
The beautifully decorated products are the work of two women Onica Lekuntwane, and Boitshoko Ncube.
Thamaga Pottery, also known as Botswelelo Centre, exhibited their exquisite products, which included candleholders, coffee mugs, coffee cups, dessert bowls, dinner plates, milk jugs, salad bowls, side plates, soup bowls, water pitchers, and wine goblets.
The centre manager, Botlalo Keipeile told Showbiz that their products are handcrafted and decorated using their own designs, which are inspired by the Setswana culture.
She said they also accept design specifications from their customers.
Keipeile, however, told Showbiz that business has been a bit slow of recent, explaining that had it not been for funding by African Development Foundation (ADF), the centre would be struggling to buy materials.
She said they managed to sell a few items during the open market, stating that she was hopeful that as the day progressed, more and more people would show up. Among their beautiful designs was a traditional hut candleholder. The centre now has a website, www.thapongpottery.com.
Tshepiso Moagi Mphetolang also displayed her breath-taking embroidery works.
Hardy Kachere’s African print t-shirts, aprons, table cloths, hot plate, hot pot mats, and bags seemed to attract a lot of attention, as a number of individuals and couples could be seen leaving with a number of them.
Husband and wife, Joel Mosimanyana and Ivy Radipodi, also exhibited their beautiful products. Mosimanyana told Showbiz that he specialises in printmaking.
“I make artistic clothing,” he explained.
Their products included dresses, shirts, and pants just to mention a few.
He explained that he pays attention to detail when doing his designs.
“You see this patch work, it is not your usual patch work.
Mine is coordinated. I try as much as possible to make it look formal,” he said.
He explained that he works hand in hand with his wife, who teaches art as a subject at Naledi Senior Secondary School. His wife not only teaches, but is also an artist.
Other items, which were on sale included baskets, paintings, wooden sculptures, frames and framed mirrors.
