African art that's Made in China
African craft artists pump about $300 million into the economy. But the locals are finding it tougher to compete with factories in China making replicas of their crafts. Gretchen Wilson explores how this is a form of identity theft.
More on International, Africa, Arts - Culture
TEXT OF STORY
Bill Radke: If you've done some travelling abroad, you may have bought some ethnic arts and crafts for your home. A mask from Mexico, a wood carving from Kenya. But are you sure they're authentic? Globalization means more and more African arts and crafts are being made in factories not in the countries they claim to be from. Gretchen Wilson reports from Johannesburg that real crafters are struggling to compete.
Gretchen Wilson: This sidewalk serves as a studio for South African artist Boas Manzvenga. He strings wires with tiny beads to make the distinctive sculptures this region's known for.
Boas Manzvenga: This one is a small, small leopard. And this one is a lion.
He's asking $35 for this lion, about the size of a house cat. It's these skills that put bread on the table for his wife and sons. And his extended family.
Manzvenga: I think it's nearly 20 people. They depend on me. So I need to support them.
Many of the 1 million traditional craft artists in South Africa might otherwise be unemployed. But they pump more than $300 million a year into the economy. It's tough for them to compete with Chinese manufacturers who flood the market with cheaper replicas.
Manzvenga: They can buy things at cheaper price. Then they can go there and remake it and they make a profit out of us.
And they do, at shopping malls like this one, in Johannesburg, where shelves are loaded with foreign-made baskets, beaded jewelry and wooden giraffes. All mass produced.
Priscilla Nyoni is with Craft Yarona, a company that promotes local artists:
Priscilla Nyoni: It's something that has been happening for years now, and our government hasn't been intervening.
She says there's more at stake than just employment:
Nyoni: That's African identity, and they're actually stealing it.
Artists sometimes turn to copyrights and intellectual property laws to protect their work. But that's expensive. So African artists are easily exploited -- especially the rural poor.
Anitra Nettleton is an art historian at Wits University:
Anitra Nettleton: They don't have access to the kinds of legal ways of protecting their designs, and so anyone can use them. Because there is nothing to stop. And that's immoral.
South Africa's artists are trying to innovate to keep one step ahead of look-a-like imports. And they say it's now up to consumers to make sure they're buying the real thing.
In Johannesburg, I'm Gretchen Wilson for Marketplace.
Comments
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From sylmar, CA, 02/27/2009
African artists zapped by cheap Chinese knock-offs?
Chinese merchant / manufacturers travel the world, they find products and markets, then produce the lowest possible quality for the lowest possible prices.
Flip this story. Redesign African products for the world. Make quality products. Send the products to the rich nations. The rich will pay for quality African products. Money will flow direct to the artists.
They can do it. I did it.
www.giftofinfinitecolors.com
From san antonio, TX, 02/27/2009
This story brought back memories of our trip to Thailand last spring. While touring the refugee villages of the Karen people, we saw several women weaving beautiful scarves for sale. Our guide explained that due to their refugee status they are not allowed to have "real" jobs so weaving and putting themselves on display for tourists (these are the people who use neck rings as a status symbol) was the only option for survival. While looking at some of the finished products I was amazed to see a section of pashminas, straight from China. These camps were rough--dirt floor huts, no running water, etc.--so I was amazed to see the global economy was showing its face even here. Later as we toured another hill tribe village/camp we were flooded with children trying to sell us Made In China jewelry as well. This experience definitely made me more aware of buying "real" art, just as your interesting story did. Thanks for the great programming!
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