| Craft Makers | |
 Chairperson: Annah Kyomukama Annah (43) went to school up to Senior 2, where she learned to understand and speak English. She married when she was 18 years old. Her husband died, now she is alone with her ten children. She is working nine hours on the field daily. When she was 12 years old her mother taught her how to weave. Annah is best in making necklaces and belts. Apart from farming and weaving she is a traditional healer. If she could, she would like to be a doctor.  Aida Bangirana Aida (44) has six children, aged between four and 19. She usually works on the field for 12 hours a day. When she was 35 years old she started weaving. Her favourite crafts are belts and fruit bowls. She makes the most beautiful bowls. It takes her two days to complete one. She would like to be a nurse and wishes her children to be very educated.  Emily Turyahikyira Emily (31) attended school until Primary 7. When she was 20 years old, she married a fisherman. They had five children, but unfortunately two of them died because of malaria. They live at Kyabahinga where Emily is working on the field from eight in the morning until four in the afternoon. She taught herself how to weave when she was 27. She likes to make necklaces and belts. To finish a necklace she needs one day, a belt takes her one week. If she had enough money, she would like to buy goats and cows.  Hope Tweyongyere Hope (52) wasn’t able to go to school. She married when she was 18. Her husband died two years ago. Since then, she takes care of their five children alone. She cultivates sorghum, beans and potatoes. When she was 21, her mother taught her how to make crafts. Her favorites are table mats and necklaces. If she was rich, she would like to eat at the table and pay school fees so that her children could get a good education.  Jackline Twinomujuni Jackline (41) went to Bwama Primary School so she understands English. She has five children, three of them go to school. Her husband, who she married when she was 25 years old, has passed away. In 2008 her aunt taught her how to weave crafts. She usually makes crafts when she gets back from the field at around 6pm. She enjoys most weaving tablemats and small lid baskets. If she had the power, she would like to be the daughter-in-law of the president, so that her kids could have good jobs.  Janis Ariyo Janis (30) went to school until Primary 5. When she was 16 she married Mikel Ariyo, who is two years younger than her. He became a businessman. Janis is a farmer, she starts to dig at ten in the morning and ends at four. Afterwards she makes crafts, mainly jewellery and table mats. In her free time Janis likes to play the drums and the shakers. If she had the power to change things, she would be white and rich.  Allen Tukamuhabwa Allen (29) had to leave school after Primary 4. When she was 15 years old, she married a 20 years old farmer. They have five children. Allen usually spends the whole day on the field, from surise to sunset. At the age of eight her mother taught her how to weave crafts. It takes her one day to finish a mobile and or a lid basket, which are her favorite crafts. She would love to be rich, so that she could get whatever she needs.  Elena Milisenta Elena is from Murabdi, which is across the lake. Now she lives in Bufuka, which is close to the Heart of Edirisa. She estimates that she is 60 years old. The Bakiga traditionally don't count the years of their life; however, they know if there was an important historical incident or a long dry season the year of their birth. Elena married when she was 14 years old. At the age of 16 she had her first child. Now, she has three daughters and one son, all of them went to school, even though she didn't. She learned how to weave from her parents. Since she has heart problems, Elena doesn’t go to the plantation anymore. However, she still makes crafts. Her favorite is a traditional basket, for which she needs two weeks to complete. If she could change things, she would like to be rich and eat well. She has never owned shoes in her life. In her opinion, life is better than anything else.  Winnie Busingye Winnie (56) married when she was 18 years old. Her husband died in 1988 because of malaria. Since then, she has to take care of her seven children alone. Winnie didn't go to school, but when she was 16 she attended a club for one year where she learned to make handcrafts. She likes most to weave table mats and it takes her two days to finish one. When asked the question what she likes, Winnie answered with: “I like it, when people call me mukaka (old woman, grandmother), I didn't think I would reach this age and that I would have grandchildren. I am proud of that.” If she could, she would like to be a shop keeper.  Evas Madesi Evas (40) went to school up to Primary 7 where she learned English. At the age of 21 she married but her husband died. She had six children, one died during birth and one drowned. Evas digs in the field from eight in the morning until five. Afterwards she makes crafts, which she learned at the age of 14 from her mother. Evas likes making belts, necklaces and table mats. Each one takes her three days. She is very innovative, introducing new designs of Jewellery and constantly improving her skills. Apart from that she likes playing the drums. If she had enough money, she would like to eat whatever she wants.  Mirika Katurebe Mirika (36) only went to school until Primary 2. From international visitors she learned to understand English a little bit. When she was 12, her mother taught her how to weave. She enjoys most making lid baskets. It takes her three days to finish a medium sized lid basket. When she was 18, she married a peasant farmer and carpenter who produces chairs and benches. They grow sorghum, sweet potatoes and beans. Their six children are between three and 16. If she had the power to change things, she would like to know how to read and write English.  Lydia Kyabangyi Lydia is the oldest member of Edirisa's craft group. She doesn't know her age, but she estimates that she is 70 years old. She married her 24 years old husband when she was 14. He died at the age of 60 because of high blood pressure. They had eight children, but four died during birth. Lydia couldn't go to school because there were none in her area. She attended a club in her home village where she learned practical skills. When she was seven years old, her mother taught her how to make crafts. She likes to make baskets, it takes her about a week to complete one. Apart from weaving Lydia used to dig on the field. She says, that she grew “everything”, but now she is becoming old and needs the help of her grandchildren. If she had enough money, she would like to buy a motor boat.  Hope Tumusiime Hope (36) was born in Musamba, so she of the Batwa pigmies. She went to school until Primary 5. When her parents died, she had to drop out of school in order to work in the field and support her siblings. At the age of 16 she moved to Katoma, where she married 21 year old Francis Ruyumbu, who works as a guard on Bushara Island. Today they have three daughters and three sons, all of them go to school. From eight am to five pm, Hope diggs on the field. After cooking for her family in the evening, she makes crafts. On Sundays, when Hope goes to church she enjoys singing and playing the drums. She would love to have a shop in her village.  Winnie Mwebesa Winnie (57) married when she was 19. Her husband is four years older than her. They had four children, two boys and two girls, but unfortunately one of the daughters died in the age of two because of pneumonia. One of her sons died when he was 37 because of canser. Winnie never went to school, however she attended a club established in her home village where she learned some practical skills, like weaving. She is best at making baskets, but these days it takes her about three weeks to finish one. She spends six hours a day in the field, planting sweet potatoes, beans, peas and sorghum. She hopes to always have peace in her family.  Molly Kabatoro Molly (38) lives in Bufuka, very close to the Heart of Edirisa. With 15 she married her husband who is eight years older. They have 6 children together, but Molly is the main bread winner of the family because her husbands drinks a lot. On some days Molly works 12 hours in the field, planting sorghum, beans and sweet potatoes. On other days she concentrates on making crafts, like baskets and belts. Molly would love to be a doctor. | |
| 16. Aug. 2010 | |
