Florence Jongola has a family business, and she is its CEO. With 12 years of National Arts Festival experience under her belt, Jongola is more than qualified for her job. Her headquarters are a stall on Church Square, and her PE home. Traditional clothes and bead jewellery are her trade.
Florence Jongola has a family business, and she is its CEO. With 12 years of National Arts Festival experience under her belt, Jongola is more than qualified for her job. Her headquarters are a stall on Church Square, and her PE home. Traditional clothes and bead jewellery are her trade.
It wouldn’t be a family business without Jongola having inherited the skills from her grandmother.
“I learnt as early as 12. It is the traditional way.”
Her husband, daughter, and son are all accomplished in the art of dress and jewellery making. In time, she plans to hand over the reins to her daughter.
Jongola’s stock sells from R30 to R350, the most pricey being the traditional outfits (umbaco) consisting of umbiqo, or a wrap-around skirt. The necklaces sold are made from beans that Jongola grows in her garden, called intanyisi.
A sense of community is alive in the stall as customers filter in to give Jongola words of greeting. Twelve years of selling at the Festival has made her a popular vendor, and her warm nature adds to this.
“God is always on my side,” is Jongola’s mantra, and she uses it to continue to drive her family business forward.
