Mauritins wants to train the youth
"Many young people watch me when I weave a carpet. They are interested in learning the art. My future dream is to own my own loom and teach the youth of Ondangwa how to weave," said Mauritins Murenga (57), one of the weavers of African Kirikara Art & Craft.Mauritins was born in Rundu and after school he came to Windhoek to live with his brother, looking for work and a better life.
"We were in Rehoboth when we heard about a farm woman who was looking for people to train as weavers. I moved to the farm Kiripotib in the Dordabis area and started my training at the age of 24."
Kirikara
Claudia von Hase started creating Kirikara rugs in 1988. Weavers had to complete an apprenticeship of up to three years.
“Our weavers start with pure, shorn wool of the highest quality and also of extreme durability. From the spinning, the dyeing and weaving processes, to the final product, everything is done by hand. The designer chooses from a spectrum of more than 200 colors; of both strong and subtle colors, primaries and pastels. Natural shades contrast with colorful representations. The patterns themselves are evidence of many diverse cultures and personal experiences. We can weave a rug to your personal specifications," says African Kirikara Art & Craft's website.
Mauritins taught and worked on Kiripotib for 13 years. He now sits at the Kirikara shop in Klein Windhoek where he weaves his carpets.
Customers can come and see him there and talk to him about a rug.
"I design the carpets myself. I can design it according to the customer's specifications or they can bring me a pattern and then I weave the rug. My personal favourite is dunes. I like to put them on a carpet. Dunes have been a part of my life for almost as long as I can remember. I grew up here between the dunes and the river and what it looks like there. Rundu is no longer in my blood, it was too long ago,” he said.
The largest rug he makes is 3m x 4m and it takes him about two weeks to complete.
Looking ahead
"I want to stand on my own two feet and train other young people. There are two looms in Ondangwa that I can buy and then I can start my own business there. I am still saving the money for the loom. We have to build up the country and by training the youth we do it. We must stand together and take this beautiful country of ours forward," Mauritins said.