A story from utility to artistry
High in the mountains of Makhungutja, Indzabayami Cooperative has turned a humble survival skill into a thriving craft enterprise. Once, the women of this community wove simple grass brooms to sell at local markets, more to sustain their families' livelihood than for profit. Today, a team of 15 women and men work side by side, blending inherited techniques with fresh perspectives from six of their young members. The designs, often inspired by the mountainous surroundings, the culture of the communities, and daily homestead needs, have evolved into sought-after home décor. Indzaba Yami means 'my story'.
Collaborations with international designers transformed the earnings of Indzabayami Cooperative, improving household nutrition and even funding vegetable gardens and bean production for the families around the workshop. The cooperative has become a place of generational exchange, where elders share dyeing secrets from trees and grasses, while youth bring in innovation and ambition. With new land allocated at the mountain’s summit, the Indzabayami Cooperative dreams of a studio and conference space, in celebration of the power of craft to shine beyond the objects made.
Where
Indzaba Yami Multipurpose Cooperative
