The Drostdy Arch attracts a constant stream of artists, craftspeople and entrepreneurs. Zola Duda and Hamfree Mnyikizo are all of these personas, and have been selling their wares in front of the arch since last year.
The Drostdy Arch attracts a constant stream of artists, craftspeople and entrepreneurs. Zola Duda and Hamfree Mnyikizo are all of these personas, and have been selling their wares in front of the arch since last year.
They have an impressive list of past projects and optimistic plans for the future – such as extending their business into the community by teaching manufacturing skills to the youth, and even starting a workshop programme with the local correctional services.
Duda grew up in Grahamstown East and Mnyikizo is originally from Port Elizabeth. After meeting in 2006, they saw an opportunity to work together. “There is no everyday freemarket in PE, so I came here," said Mnyikizo.
They decided to work in Grahamstown because there are many tourists, artists and art-lovers here – "people who want to buy clothes for the sake of art, not fashion”.
In 2009 Mnyikizo and Duda were finalists for the Community Builders Award in the primary schools section, for hosting workshops at Mzoncane Primary School, in Zwide township in Port Elizabeth. They taught the school children to stitch and sew shoes and bags made from leather and material.
While living in Port Elizabeth, Duda employed children during the school holidays to cut and stitch for him, which is something he would like begin in Grahamstown. Duda declares, “It is my mission to transfer skills," but "I am a business man also, not just a charity.”
Duda also spent time teaching basic skills workshops at Enkuselweni Secure Care Centre in Kwazakhele in Port Elizabeth, which is a home for juvenile criminal boys. He trained the boys, aged between 13 and 17, and helped them to enter competitions with the products that they made. He has been in contact with the Grahamstown departments of correctional services and skills development in connection with starting a workshop programme with the local prison.
“I notice the brothers have nothing to do when they come out of prison. No money, no workshops, and some have kids. "In prison they have nothing to do, so they could be working on becoming designers and manufacturers,” said Duda. Duda has a family of his own back in Port Elizabeth, but he understands and wants to help the needs of the community he grew up in.
“I’m a family man. I have two kids and I also have to provide.” Mnyikizo and Duda are currently trying to organise a workshop in which to manufacture their goods – they are currently working from home in Phumlani, Joza.
The pair make all of their crafts, using a domestic sewing machine, an overlocker, or their bare hands. They would like to stage one or two fashion shows for the National Arts Festival if the municipality can provide a space, says Duda. He believes that their creations measure up not only to local, but international standards.
