Looking for Art and Craft in Swaziland?

The Kingdom is famous for its wide selection of genuine Swazi hand made articles, small intimate gifts, clothing, tableware,
jewellery, interior décor items and more.

AFRICAN FANTASY - A large selection of art and craft from Armstrong Artworks, designed and made in Swaziland. These include T-shirts, sweatshirts, posters, ceramics and cloths; there is a range of ethnic jewellery. The shops can be found at the Mall in Mbabane and the Mantenga Craft Centre

BAOBAB BATIK - a retail shop, with it's own workshop which produces individual art pieces with a batik technique unique to Swaziland. You can find a range of colourful clothes, wall hangings, table cloths and serviettes, each item created by hand by a group of women. Outlets can be found in Malkerns, at Ka Malandela's, as well as in the House & Home Shop at Mantenga Craft Centre.

CORAL STEPHENS HAND-WEAVING - For over 50 years, Coral Stephens hand-weaving has been producing blankets, shawls, throws and cushions made from mohair, cotton and wool. Visits to the Piggs Peak workshop arranged by appointment.

ENDLOTANE STUDIOS - A showroom for Phumalanga Swazihand Tapestries, these unique wall hangings can take up to a month to complete and are made from the backdrop of paintings done by artist Albert Christoph Reck. Endlotane is situated at Ngwenya and have an outlet at Mantenga Craft Centre.

ETHNIC BOUND - Peak Craft Centre - A uniquely ethnic shop with art and crafts from West and Southern Africa. The shop also contains beautiful handmade clothes, made from African print material; the clothes are designed and made in the workshop at the craft centre. A range of children's clothing has just been launched.

FRANCES FARRELL - Frances is a young and talented goldsmith whose skills range from custom-designed pieces to repairs on old family heirlooms. Her studio can be found at the Mantenga Craft Centre

GONE RURAL - With the aid of 700 women in the rural homesteads, Gone Rural creates stylish and essential home interior products such as floor mats, tableware, lighting, office and home accessories out of plaited coloured lutsindzi grass. Situated in Malkerns at the KaMalandela's.

HAWU! POTS - Mantenga Craft Centre- Clay pots made in the Bulunga Mountains by the Nkambule family for over five generations. These pots come in different shapes and sizes and are decorated with coloured fabrics based on traditional Swazi designs.

JEWELLERY STUDIO -Guava Gallery - John and Tuire Thatcher, goldsmith and artist, with the help of nineteen Swazi employees, design and manufacture gold and silver jewellery. Some of the jewellery is entwined with elephant and giraffe hair. Visit them near the entrance to Mantenga Nature Reserve.

LIKHWETI KRAFT - Likweti, an outlet of Tintsaba Craft at the Peak Craft Centre, is a company that for more than 15 years has been committed to the production of craft, mainly made from sisal, by rural women in the Northern part of Swaziland. Likweti showcases silver jewellery with designs from patterns woven in sisal and they have a range that integrates sisal and silver.

NGWENYA GLASS - A small group of Swazi craftsmen and women expertly craft animals, birds, drinking glass of all shapes and sizes and other decorative ornaments out of recycled glass collected from around the country.

PHUMALANGA TAPESTRIES -- Phumalanga Swazihand Tapestries has been producing beautiful hand-woven mohair tapestries for over 20 years in the Kingdom of Swaziland.
These tapestries bear the distinctive Swazihand; with designs derived from San (bushman) cave painting found right in our very own Kingdom.

ROSECRAFT - Mantenga Craft Centre- specialising in hand-woven mohair and merino wool designs including scarves, jerseys, shawls, pillow covers, drapes and curtains of various intricate design. Subtly dyed to natural autumn shades of amber, brown and cream, with soft blues and royal purple these creations are amongst Swaziland's most exclusive and highly sought-after textile ranges. Mohair is home grown on the Rosecraft farm, which is situated in the rural mountain area west of Malkerns and the workshop facility is open to the public

SHIBA RUGS - Mantenga Craft Centre -Local people of Bethany mission weave mats and rugs of different colours and sizes, and other household furnishings all made out of cotton. The workshop is open to visitors.

SOUTHERN COUNTRY - A leather specialist hand makes leather items such as bags of different sizes, shoes, belts, and other gift items, a shop can be found at Mantenga Craft Centre and at Malandela's Homestead.

SWAZI CANDLES - Local crafts people shape and decorate candles into unique, colorful animals and other beautifully shaped candles. The making of these candles is worthwhile sight and can be witnessed at their Malkerns factory-shop.

This information was compiled by the Ezulwini Tourist Office. Visit them at Mantenga Craft Centre, call 4161136 or email tourism@mailfly.com

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