Who makes our products, where do they come from and what are their stories?
Meet some of our amazing artisans and read their short stories to fully understand how much it takes to create a single product and what the process is like.
Shangaan women – Meet Mama Moira and Emina
In the rural southeast of Zimbabwe, the Shangaan people, descendants of Zulus, preserve traditional lifestyles including basket weaving. Local artisans like Mama Moira and Emina create these baskets from natural materials for livelihood and cultural preservation. Amid challenges, they dream of business growth and educated children, valuing global recognition and consistent orders for their handcrafted items.
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Artist voices: Metal magic – Snake or Fish?
Meet Last Kode Siyavhida 37 years old and Mischie Cetsh Hlekwayo 35 years old old. They are living with their families in a high-density area near the capital of Zimbabwe.
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Artist voices: Craft by auto mechanics
Meet Zacs 48 years old, Tendai 35 years old, and Denzil 38 years old. They are Shona males living in a high-density areas near the capital working for HVH Africa. They are former auto mechanics and member of a local metal art community with 35 members. Fairtrade approved by Fairtrade Denmark via House by the Sea since 2007.
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Meet Mrs. Sibanda & Mrs. Sithole – Hwange weavers
Behind every HVH Africa Craft product is someone who is resilient, determined and hopeful for a brighter future. Meet Mrs Sibanda and Mrs Sithole from a small village in the north western Zimbabwe. The live on the brink of the largest national park in Zimbabwe and are greatly affected by poverty and the “human – wildlife conflict. “
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Tonga artisans – Meet Elena and Betty
The Tonga region was one of the last places to be “westernized” in Zimbabwe, so until the year 2000 you could still meet women who had had their four front teeth knocked out to appear unattractive to the men of the neighboring tribes. – The neighboring tribes – all the way down to the capital – had on their side stories about the Tonga, such as they were little ones with hair on their backs and had six toes….
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Artisan Voices – Meet the painter behind the hearts
Meet Peter Chafidza 51 years old from the Shona tribe, married late, due to lobola and has children and one grandchild. Used to spray paint cars before he began his craft company.
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