Meet the Mapusha Artisans

Anna Mduli

Anna Mduli is a fast and efficient spinner. On most days, she sits at the spinning wheel turning soft white spirals of wool into yarn for the weavers. Anyone who has ever tried spinning knows how difficult it is to create a fine even strand, and Anna is expert at this. She weaves as well but her true love is dancing.

Anyone fortunate enough to visit the studio never forgets the thrill of their welcome in song and dance. Anna Mduli’s long thin body is the center of attention when she and Gertrude Mbetsi demonstrate a typical Shangaan dance with Ambrocia beating out the rhythm on a plastic bucket. The other women cheer and clap and often join in the dance.