Tribal Home Company founders, John Lee and Steve Danielson, assist the remote but extremely talented KwaZulu-Natal weavers by bringing their masterpieces to the world’s markets on a non-profit basis. Museum-quality Zulu basketry, an exquisite art, was in danger of waning for lack of a reliable market. Tribal Home preserves this important Zulu art form, improving lives and protecting the environment.
The Tribal Home partners spent considerable time personally getting to know many Master Weavers and their specialties. As they gained the trust of the weavers, the Tribal Home partners were able to set up a workable production and fair sale system upon which the weavers could depend for their economic betterment and stability.
Tribal Home pays fair and consistent prices on-the-spot for each basket -- no middlemen or sharp bargaining. This consistent flow of meaningful pay has dramatically raised the weavers' standard of living as well as that of their families. And, as a result, the tradition is thriving again among the young!
We are particularly honored to introduce our customers to four immensely talented Zulu weavers.
Laurentia Dlamini. No Zulu weaver deserves more admiration for the survival of the tradition than Laurentia, the matriarch and living treasure of Zulu basketry. Laurentia helped bridge Zulu basketry from the past to the present. Laurentia, retired from active weaving in 1993. Her work, including her difficult straight-sided iqoma canisters, was prized by collectors and museums for its refined weave and magical colors. So, when John Lee saw her baskets displayed at the African Art Museum, the urban Art Gallery and the University at Petermarisburg, he determined to meet her.
Laurentia does not speak English, but John spoke enough Zulu to be charmed by her good, dry sense of humor. John apparently charmed Laurentia too, so she began weaving again at his request.
Bettina Mlotshwa. Bettina, a Master Weaver, is among the very few who can make the water jug style, the isichumo, with its tight, tension-control lid, micro stitching and abundant, fine detail.
Nozipho Masando. Nozipho is a young master of the beer jug style called the ukhamba. She prefers three basic patterns: concentric lines with spirals, nested diamonds and the flame stitch. She also prefers earth tone colors.
Sebenzile Hlabisa Sebenzile, a Master Weaver, has made many museum pieces and she carefully guards her secret to achieving her extraordinary, all-natural rose color.
While Zulu weavers rarely make two baskets alike, Sebenzile, at John’s personal request, agreed to make a number of modern isiquabetho (open bowl) baskets originally styled by a London-based designer and first shown at Harrods in London.
