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 Khotso, Pula, Nala!
This is the blessing of the women who are the weavers of Elelloang Basali. In English, they are wishing us Peace, Rain, Prosperity! Meet some of these women: “I am Maitumeleng Mokhachane. I have 46 years old. I have 5 children. My husband was pass away. I started working Elelloang in 1997 as a member to take care of my family.” “My name is Mamotanyane. I live in Lesotho. I am 21 years old. I have 1 child. I am working at Elelloang Basali Weavers. I work very hard to take care of my family and I have a husband but he is not working.” “I am Marosa Ramonaheng. I was born in 1961. My husband is no working. I have 3 children. I am working very hard to take care of my family and to pay school fees for mychildren.” In the 1990’s many of the men living in Lesotho, a tiny southern African country surrounded entirely by South Africa, were laid off from the only jobs available to them in the mines. The resourceful Basotho women have turned to their weaving skills to insure the survival of their families. In the town of Teyateyaneng, many have gone to work in the four centers that produce mohair weavings of traditional designs. Of the four weaving centers in the town, only one was founded by women and is totally owned by women. It is called “Elelloang Basali” – “Be Aware Women.” These women are not only aware, they are resourceful. You will find them working in a building made entirely of beer and soda cans. Their simple spinning wheels are old bicycle wheels. Every step of the work is done by hand. The livelihood they make possible goes beyond their own families; they support dozens of farmers throughout the country who supply them with mohair. Fourteen women, most of them supporting several generations, founded the center with money from their own savings, a loan from a mineworker, and a grant from the United States Embassy. Nearly forty women are now employed to create mohair rugs and wall hangings of village scenes and traditional Basotho designs. Many of these designs were once drawn into the floors and walls of the rondavels, the huts that are increasingly being replaced by cement block homes. The women of Elelloang Basali are weaving for their families’ lives; they are also weaving community. The work goes on in the presence of children and grandchildren, dance and song. Support is available for any weaver in need, including interest-free loans. Weavers enjoy the bounty of a garden of fresh food grown for their benefit. And now that thread of community, the blessing of “Khotso, Pula, Nala,” joins these women with weavers all over the world through The Thread Project: One World One Cloth (see the article “One World, One Cloth”). The women of Elelloang Basali were chosen to weave one of the 49 panels that incorporate tens of thousands of threads from every continent of our world. Sources: |
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