Beware Of Cultural Theft!!!!

Telephone wire weaving is a craft that developed spontaneously amongst the Zulu people. It evolved from the traditional craft of basket weaving. It is regarded amongst the Zulu people as part of their cultural identity.

In isiZulu the bakets are called imbenge (s) or izimbenge (p). This is the same name that is given to the traditional beer pot covers. As the grass that is used for the beer pots become scarce, telephone wire is used as a substitute.

We have recently noticed that there are entities in the Far East that are making telephone wire baskets. Unless the baskets are produced in Southern Africa, preferably by a member of one of the Nguni tribes, we regard it as cultural theft. It would be the same as a rug woven in China, with Navajo motifs.

We have noticed the same trend with traditional Zulu beadwork. The tube and strand is a design that has been around in various forms for centuries. Now the same design is cropping in beadwork from South and Central America.

Please be careful where you spend your money.