Leontine Ndumba

Namibia

Year(s) attended: 2009

Shankara Craft and The Omba Arts Trust

Baskets from the Kavango Region

Leontine Ndumba lives on her homestead along the Kavango River where she farms pearl millet, the staple crop of the region.  Between her agricultural and household activities, she weaves coiled baskets to be used for harvesting millet, storage, and for carrying items on a daily basis. Grass for the inner part of the coil is wrapped with palm colored by bark, boiled leaves and mud.  Much of the region is remote and far from markets and many areas are poor with little cash in circulation in the local economy.  Craft production, such as basket making, has become an increasingly important economic activity for women in the region to improve living conditions in their communities.