Making it big with beads
When Cossam Kapanda graduated from Zingwangwa Secondary School, he thought his future was bleak.
After seeing hope for higher education vanish in a flash due to his poor background, the artist can afford to count his blessings—thanks to beads.
“I saw my world collapse after sitting Malawi School Certificate of Education exams. I had no income generating activity. I was interested in art, but I had no any skills either,” said the bead artist who plies at Blantyre Market.
If it were not for courage and passion, Kapanda could have withdrawn into relentless state of dependence.
However, he is now doing big by weaving a tale of beauty and cultural expressions using beads—a craze which started when he met a Tanzanian entrepreneur in 1998.
For about 15 years, he has been shoplifting skills around town to perfect his art and he now sells his beadwork abroad.
The Blantyre resident says rising demand for the adornments have compelled him to open another shop in Lilongwe. The offerings come in all colours, sizes and shapes—necklaces, hearts, earrings, armbands and waist laces.
He also produces special designs for weddings, engagements and bridal showers.
Just like that, he makes a decent living and takes care of his siblings’ needs.
According to him, exorbitant raw materials and lack of professional training are some of the major challenges of his enterprise. Nearly all beads—both genuine and plastic—on the local market are imported.
To close the training gaps, Technical Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (Teveta) is training some young Malawians to embrace bead art for a living.
On Friday last week, 20 Tevet trainees graduated in the art.
During the graduation, Teveta acting executive director Wilson Makulumiza said: “Wealth of most developed countries grew fast because of returns obtained from exporting artworks. Malawi can follow suit if bead artists are promoted and supported with professional training and substantial incomes.”
Meanwhile, Kapanda has teamed up with his business colleagues and the new graduates to grow the art.
