Eye Catching African Jewelry

I am lucky enough to be sitting in Africa right now. I have just meet an extrodinary group of individuals that are truly unique to themselves

As you're probably aware living in Africa can be extremely difficult at any given time.

It certainly doesn't help if you have some form of disability. You are basically classed as useless to society. Well let me tell you about the Shanga group.

These wonderful people are either deaf/mute or physically challenged in some way.

The Shanga group make the most wonderful handmade necklaces from recycled glass. Everything is done by hand with the help of some homemade tools. No electricity is used.

The glass is crushed to a fine powder. The glass powder is then put into handmade molds and baked in a kiln fired by coffee wood so as to not cut down trees.The final result, hand made glass beads recycled from bottles.

By the way Shanga means Bead in Swahili.

Saskia Rechsteiner the founder of Shanga also opens the doors once a week to a group of Down Syndrome children whom are also learning this skill.

Everyday there is free sign classes on the workshop veranda and children from the surrounding area are invited to join in. Most of the Shanga group have been asked to leave their homes unless they hand over their entire salaries to their families.

Saskia has taken it upon herself to pay for their rent in their knew homes whilst making sure they are safe and happy.

The necklaces come in three ranges Silk, Chiffon and kanga. Kanga is the local Tanzanian dress that the woman wear. The neckaces come in a wide variety of colors.

The Shanga name and necklace design have been copyrighted to ensure the future livelihood of the Shanga staff.

I can tell you it was so wonderful to watch these guys working and so content in their world.

Chat soon.

Tania Bale

African Art Online.Com