McDonald Muringani

Mukanya Creations

Leatherworker

Wonai_Haruperi©Michelangelo_Foundation

Handcrafted to the last stitch

McDonald is a self-taught leather craftsman
He grew up in a family of creatives who continue to inspire him
His objects are hand-stitched from start to finish using Zimbabwean leather

McDonald Muringani was born into an artistic family. His interest in leatherwork began as a hobby in 2015. He trained with a leather craft artisan but is mostly self-taught. He moved to Cape Town, South Africa, where an encounter with a bicycle shop owner provided a job crafting leather saddles and handlebars for old bikes. McDonald opened a workshop which he closed in 2022 to return to Zimbabwe. He also had a shop which he was forced close due to the pandemic. In 2022 he opened his Harare workshop. McDonald works with Zimbabwean vegetable-tanned hard leather used for belts and saddles and soft leather for upholstery. His craft thrives on collaborations, and his most ambitious project to date has been hand-stitching a golf club bag for a professional golfer.

Interview

Wonai_Haruperi©Michelangelo_Foundation

Wonai_Haruperi©Michelangelo_Foundation

Why do you like creating with your hands?: When I am creating with my hands, the focus is on that moment alone. I feel free, at ease, at peace and alive. The practice of handcrafting is not only therapeutic, it is also a way to add and leave my mark on this earth.
How is your craft linked to your country?: I feel strongly about the preservation of my culture as an African woman of Shona descent. I am always moved to create bags that share the knowledge of our indigenous dyeing ideologies, which is why I have designed handbags inspired by the material culture of my nation, for example the Ngoma bag, which is a depiction of a Shona drum.
In what ways do you collaborate with other artisans?: I always prefer to source from local artisans who are skilled in a craft. I have worked with artisans who specialise in indigenous dyes and dyeing practices, hand-weaving, and over the years, also wood and stone sculptors. I will continue to do so as a means to support their craft and help sustain their livelihoods.
Why did you choose to work with hessian fibre?: I had past experience using hessian fibre in high school, and have always had a keen interest in items that are looked down upon by people. Hessian is a sustainable, bio-degradable fibre that is normally shunned, and I started researching ways to beautify the material.

McDonald Muringani is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2015