Mukhethwa Maemu’s beaded creations the talk of the town
Turning her beadwork talent into a business opportunity, Mukhethwa Maemu not only changed her own life, but also the lives of those in her community.
LIMPOPO – The 23-year-old from Ha-Mabila village near Mutale is now the talk of the town after her business took flight in November 2019.
Maemu said her beadwork was all about having fun at first, and keeping herself busy, but after she saw her close friend Valentia Negondeni doing beadwork, she taught herself to perfect the art. “People started loving my jewellery and complimented it, and this is when I realised that I can actually make a legitimate business from my beaded creations.”
She added that when she started her business she received a lot of support from her friends and family, but most importantly from Vho-Agnes Mamathaba who believed in her when she didn’t believe in herself.
“Every time when she gets orders, she will just call me to give me the colours that are on the market that I have to use and she will show me how I should do it.”
Although she just recently started with her business, Maemu says it is difficult to market and get customers especially with everyone making beads all over the world, but she uses social media platforms to reach customers.
Since Maemu started her business, she said that her business is not only changing her life but also the lives of unemployed youth in her village. “I sometimes receive overwhelming orders and alone I am not able to meet deadlines and it is for that reason that I sometimes ask assistance from other youth to help me with my work and with the little income we can generate, we are able to support ourselves financially, and have money to apply for jobs,” she said.
