In Botswana you can find some of the most fabulous and refined handicrafts of southern Africa. Batswana artists were originally common people able to imprint creativity, beauty and tradition on everyday objects. Later on, European colonizers introduced a different art style, which was partly adapted to and integrated with the local tradition, giving birth to unique, fabulous tapestries and fabrics.
Tourists visiting the rural areas of the country can buy these handicrafts directly from the craftsmen who have produced them; alternatively, they can either pay a visit to one of the several textile and handicrafts cooperatives throughout the country or buy these articles in the gift shops in the main towns.
Pottery The first ceramics used in Botswana were made of clay moulded into a smooth spiral; then, they were fired on a slow temperature so that they remained permeable. This method caused evaporation through the pot and represented a sort of "ante litteram" cooling system which could keep the liquids inside the pot cold and drinkable even in the hottest days.
Today's production ? showing increasing signs of recovery as the tourist market grows ? is a perfect mix of modern look and traditional decorative motifs.
Basketry Baskets are one of the most sought-after handicrafts of Botswana because of their unique workmanship. They are mainly produced by the Bayei and Bambukushu women from Angola, who have moved to the Ngamiland District, in north-western Botswana.
Although baskets still serve to store seeds, cereals, flour, herbs or beer, craftsmanship has become very refined in time and some baskets are richly decorated with elaborate, fanciful motifs. Baskets are made from the fibrous leaves of the mokolane palm: first of all, they are cut and then boiled with natural dyes. Dark brown is obtained from the roots of motsentsila, and people also use blood, lay, cow's dung and ochre to dye the leaves. After preparing a spiral coil from grass or creepers, weavers use a special tool called lemao (a thick, sharpened piece of wire set in a wooden handle) to insert and wrap the strips of mokolane according to the pattern and form chosen.
It can take up to three weeks to produce a basket of medium size, depending upon its level of elaboration. Decorative motifs are usually representations of animals and of nature, in addition to symbolic patterns.
Jewller's craft and hide articles of San The San people living in western Botswana are extremely skilled at producing necklaces, belts and bangles with beads and with the seeds, the small stones and the pieces of ostrich eggshells which they collect during their hunting-gathering walks. Hatched ostrich eggshells are broken into small pieces by using hands or stones and the "beads" so obtained are pierced in the middle. Afterwards, they are threaded onto a string made of sinew and smoothed by using a springbok horn and a stone till they become perfectly polished and round. In addition to jewellery, eggshell "beads" are also used for decorating bags and traditional clothing, where the beadwork is sewn with thread made of animal sinew.
Thanks to their hunting and skin-tanning ability, the Bushmen produce fabulous leather articles, like sandals, bags, mats, aprons and traditional clothes; they generally use goat, buffalo and ostrich skins.
Tourists can find an interesting, detailed brochure about the history and creation of jewellery and leather articles by the San at the Gantsi Crafts in Ghanzi.
Weaving Today's textile industry produces tapestries, carpets, bedcovers, tablecloths, jackets, coats, pillowcases and scarves using karakul wool. Fabrics are decorated with typically African embroideries and decorative motifs, like animals and geometrical patterns. Some even depict tales, historical events or topical issues.
Fabrics are entirely handmade. While singing traditional songs, weavers, mostly women, dye the wool in big pots over a fire in the open air and make it mothproofed. Then they spin and weave the wool using wooden looms.
