By Nangamso Mabindla
27 October 2004

SITTING in the exhibition centre on the East London beachfront, Nomaci Qabaki is surrounded by beautiful handmade traditional clothes, part of a consignment selected to attract international buyers.

The exhibition centre at Quigney is the eye-catching locale where a group of Mdantsane crafters showcase their exquisite wares - ranging from traditional garments to small accessories like bangles and tableware - to local and foreign visitors.

The centre is the brainchild of former social worker Qabaki who, on seeing the lack of job opportunities in the area, decided to set up the Eastern Cape Craft Development Initiative. Qabaki markets the initiative's goods and also approaches potential buyers both locally and abroad.

Having been born and raised in the impoverished township, the mother of four saw the plight of crafters on her regular visits to Mdantsane during her days as a social worker for the provincial government.

So she decided to do something.

In setting up the development initiative, Qabaki approached a group of unemployed crafters from Mdantsane. The township had a number of very good crafters, according to Qabaki, but was somewhat off the beaten track as far as tourists - potential buyers - were concerned.

Qabaki was determined to ensure that the crafters became empowered, particularly in business and marketing. "I wanted to encourage locals to stop waiting for government to bring them jobs - to wake up and create jobs for themselves."

She linked up with the Mdantsane Training Centre and the Department of Trade and Industry, "who helped with workshops for these talented people". Said Qabaki: "With this training they were ready to showcase their work."

So Qabaki opened the Quigney centre, making the work more accessible to potential buyers: "I decided to open an exhibition centre near the beachfront to have more organised exhibitions."

Qabaki is driven to do what she does. She feels she has taken over where her late husband, who died in 1991, left off. "My husband was a human rights lawyer during the apartheid years. When he died I wanted to work for the community - just as he did - but on a different level."

But, as with any new project, Qabaki has had many challenges to overcome: a lack of finances; working with inexperienced people who had lost all hope because of unemployment; and breaking into a then unknown market.

"These challenges did not trouble me," she says. "My goal was to be a voice for these people."

The initiative has now managed to gain exposure for the group, having exhibited as far afield as Birmingham in the UK and Chicago in the US.

Their goal is to see their work exported internationally as this would demonstrate that demand for the handmade items has grown.

Although it has been an arduous road, "what keeps me going is the crafters' enthusiasm and passion for their work", says Qabaki, adding that her family has been her pillar of strength. "They understand the sacrifices I make," she says.