‘strong mamas’

Beginning to think now about our forthcoming trip to South Africa and remembering our first visit there in 2010. I clearly remember where we bought this cushion. We were in Mossel Bay, Southern Cape, and I found the Craft Art Workshop. This has a community gallery and provides an outlet for local people to show off and sell their work.

This particular cushion was hand printed in glorious colours, although it’s a bit faded now, as it has been in use every since we got it and has been washed a few times. The sand picture was also something that I picked out from the same gallery and, when I went to pay for both the items (there may have been a few more as well!), the guy turned out to be the artist who created the sand pictures.

He was very happy to talk about himself and other people who contributed to the gallery and took part in workshops. He also talked about the design on the cushion. That’s when he mentioned ‘strong mamas’ (most definitely not ‘big mamas’!) and talked with great respect about the mothers of the communities, who ruled the roost and told everyone what to do. That’s why, he said, they always appear as confident, strong people in the designs.