Nan’galelwa Songiso

Zambia

Year(s) attended: 2009

Kasholwasholwa Women’s Resource Center

Baskets

Nan’galelwa practices the traditional art of makenge tree root basketry made only by the Lozi people in the arid plains of western Zambia. The finely patterned Makenge root baskets are sewn using a “sela” needle made from a bicycle spoke and doorknob.

Nan’galelwa married young and has four children, but soon found herself divorced and making a meager living selling tomatoes and fish. Today, her income from baskets, and the maize and rice that she grows, provides for her own care and that of her brother’s four children who live with Nan’galelwa so they can attend school.