A lifetime of wooden creations
- Antonio transforms any piece of wood into functional and decorative art objects
- His artistic creations aim to revive cultural traditions
- He carefully cuts the wood to ensure new shoots can still grow out
Antonio Langa's jacaranda wood works range from homeware to collaborative design projects with Eswatini's leading creatives. "Since I was 12 years old, I have been carving wood and turning scraps of timber into art, which helped me support a family of 14," he says. Antonio learned the craft on his own, by observing local artisans and exchanging collected timber for time to work with their tools. In 1983, Antonio moved to Eswatini, where, after years of creating custom pieces for a patron family, he shifted his focus to cultural art inspired by Eswatini traditions. His wide range of pieces are made from jacaranda wood and hard timbers. Today, Antonio showcases his creations at the Manizini craft market.
Interview
- What led you to wood carving?
- I was raised by my mother and grandmother in Mozambique in the 1970s. Out of necessity, I turned to wood carving and learned through observation. What started as a way to earn a living became a lifetime passion.
- How do you choose your material?
- I work mainly with jacaranda wood, of which there is a lot and which is easy to shape. It is also an invasive species, so harvesting it helps the environment. I use harder woods sometimes, for example, in a wooden stiletto I crafted for designer Khulekani Msweli. That piece launched my creative journey.
- What does wood mean to you?
- Wood means everything to me – it is life itself. I respect it deeply. When I cut it, I do so carefully so new shoots can grow. It pains me to see wood burned, when it could sustain families for months through craft. As much as we love art, we must also love the environment. Nature is the greatest art there is.
- Is there an achievement you are particularly proud of?
- I am proud of the love and trust I have built with the people I work with. My collaborations with artists such as Jiggs Thorne, Sharon Venancio, and Khulekani Msweli have taken my work worldwide. But for me, the greatest success is witnessing people return again and again for my art.
Antonio Langa is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1972
Where
Antonio Langa
