With less than 6 months in the creative industry, Sindiso Masuku, uMasindi as she is popularly known in the creative industry has produced brilliant pieces of art from beads. She is a teacher by profession. She was inspired by the Zulu attire she saw in one of the schools’ competitions, the outfit had beads and she felt a challenge that pushed her to buy some beads and managed to make her own necklace, bracelet waistband, skirt and headgear.
Masindi explains her passion for art, “I just enjoy anything I do with my hands and that is the reason why I majored in art and design at college when I was doing my diploma in education at the Joshua Mqabuko Polytechnic college, though I had no art background I managed to excel in art and design”. She explains how her art is unique when she states that she is always committed and willing to keep trying until she comes up with a perfect piece of beadwork with a great design.
Masindi proudly appreciates the support she receives from those around her, people who are working tirelessly to ensure that her brand is well known, she reveals that currently she is working on her brand visibility and is thankful for the support she gets from the Planet Kadder Academy (PKA) where she acknowledges the love and support they give her. “Besides attending the kids dance competition and modelling, only a few people around me know about my works and these include the Kwaito star and Khoi Khoi, the brains behind PKA who are pushing for my exposure”.
Sindiso says that sourcing of beads, needles twines is a bit difficult for her considering that most people in Zimbabwe import them from South Africa and when these are sold in Zimbabwe they are most expensive and they do not have all sizes and colors at once. Masindi mentions that If they can also have shops that specialise in everything to do with beading and weaving or maybe find a way of manufacturing these this side without having to depend on other countries for supplies, this can ensure that the challenges they face can be minimized.
Masindi is optimistic and well aware of how good she is in what she does and that all she needs is exposure and mentorship training programmes that will boost her in her area of focus. “I know that I am good in everything that I do with my hands but not sure to what extent and I am so much curious about it”, says the expectant lady with so much hope for a fruitful business in the creative industry.
“I enjoy everything that I do with my hands, as I said I am a teacher by profession, my best part in teaching is when I design the charts and the classroom setup and whenever we are having an art activity with my learners”.
Sindiso is looking forward to expand in her line of specialization by focusing on other areas she explains “Given an opportunity I can sail further to decorative ornaments and extravagant pieces of furniture, it’s only a matter of time”.
