wooden spoon carvers
carvers of the wooden spoons are disabled individuals who received vocational training from the local school for the disabled (st锟?joseph锟絪 high school, primary, and handicapped school). there are about 20 individuals that carve the wooden spoons, and unlike the basket weavers they are not an association but rather a group of individuals who happen to be linked to one another as a consequence of a shared common background, having been to the same handicapped school.
the two gentlemen interviewed are mr exodus mbhamali and mr mfanfikile dlamini of mzimpofu and ekutsimleni respectively, in the manzini region of the country. both are handicapped and rely on the income generated from their handcrafted work to make a living, provide for their families and also pay tuition for their children. mr mbhamali also manages a roadside stall where he sells fruits and vegetables he buys from other farmers. the stall is primary his business centre as it is also the place where he produces his handcraft. mr dlamini is also a shoe mender besides being a wood carver. both gentlemen try to have extra means of income generation though the profit margins are still low/ compromised considering that in any other venture they have to outsource the products and that there isn锟絫 a great clientele for shoe mending nor is the income great, respectively. the income generated from the handcraft is at 0.16 pounds for each spoon sold, which is minimal considering the time it takes to produce a single spoon.
mr mbhamali has three children he takes care of together with his wife who is also unemployed yet strives to ensure that they attend school, while mr dlamini takes care of a family of two children his wife, mother and four siblings. though mr dlamini锟絪 children attend school a majority of his family is unqualified and only has at-most high school education (as a result are vulnerable to unemployment, as is it the case with mr dlamini who has only received primary education and vocational training at ekululameni; the handicapped school).
production of the handcraft, like the weavers, is done upon receipt of an order which is then (amongst the 20 wood carvers). eswatini kitchen is the only market for the handcraft products and as a result during the interview there were no products that could be displayed as there are no orders coming in. to produce, the wood carvers have to purchase the timber on which to work on before the whole process begins. an experienced carver will produce at most 20 spoons a day before having to fine them using sand paper, making the production a long process.
on the left is mr exodus mbhamali and on the right is mr mfanfikile dlamini. you can recognize mr mbhamalis product by the zebra on the handle while mr dlaminis are the elephant and lion carved spoons. this picture was taken at mr dlaminis home place at ekutsimuleni area in the manzini region.