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Woodcarving Workshop
BaTonga Museum
June 02, 2004

From the 28 March - 8 April 2004 BaTonga Museum hosted a woodcutting workshop facilitated by the Tonga artist Patrick Mweemba from Zambia.

In the Tonga area arts are still only to be found on the original artefacts of the Tonga, i.e. on drums, baskets, and stools, and the few doors that are left in the area. The Tonga arts are however under threat in that it is practiced less and less. To survive it is necessary to instigate some interest in the traditional arts among the younger generations, as well as attempt to develop parts of the arts to be marketable. The workshop aimed at introducing a new way of presenting Tonga traditional artworks using modern printing techniques. The workshop consisted partly of designing and cutting images, partly of printing the produced cuts and finally of producing handmade paper for the printing.

Immediately after the workshop an exhibition was put up displaying the works produced by the participants. According to the facilitator Patrick Mweemba the workshop was very successful. He stated that the products were beyond all expectations.

Milson M., a participant in the workshop, said that this kind of workshop were the first to be held of its kind in Binga. He said that there has never been any focus on Tonga arts before. He also sees a need for a development of the Tonga arts and hopes that this will be the first step towards it getting known on a bigger scale. Milias M. has together with a couple of other participants, been very eager to follow up un the workshop. They have for the past month been engaged in papermaking. Milias believes and hopes that the production will be able to create an income for him.

For more information contact:
Marianne S. Andersen
P.O. Box 78, Binga
Tel: 015 445
E-mail: tongamus@zol.co.zw

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