Products

Crafts

The San are excellent crafts people, though our focus in times gone by related to objects of practical significance – bows, arrows and spears for hunting, containers for carrying and storing water, cooking utensils, as well, of course,as toys and articles for adornment and wear. Articles that are currently produced by our community include jewellery (necklaces and bracelets), skin and leather bags, rock paintings, ‘kieries’ or walking sticks, decorated ostrich egg shells, bone pipes, mobiles and so on. All are made from natural and locally collected materials such as ostrich eggshell, bone, seeds and wood, which often have their own special significance and are used for this reason. The animals and plants that are depicted tell San stories or give an indication of an interaction between these elements of nature that are typical of the Kalahari. Individual artists might also have an affinity for different animals. Very importantly, the sale of crafts is a crucial source of income to the people and has been one of their only means of survival for many years. While we have now regained our land and other income-earning opportunities are emerging, it remains a priority to many families.

It is intended that further support will be provided to the community in terms of product development, marketing and sales outlets and we are working towards selling our crafts on-line.