Nyförvärv, korgar från Ngamiland, Botswana

"Baskets from Ngamiland; the baskets on display are from Ngamiland, Northern Botswana and are the work of two main groups of people, the Hambukushu who live mostly in the 13 Etsha villages and the Bayei who live in the Gomore area. The two groups have an association with each other since both have been moving in and out of the Okavango Delta for the last thousand years; the bayei on the eastern side and the hambukushu on the western. Malcolm Thomas, the Settlement Officer working with the hambukushu, noticed the rich craft tradition they had brought with them and encouraged it by setting up a marketing system especially for their baskets business. In 1970, Botswanacraft was set up to handle the fast growing basket business. With financial aid and continued support from international volunteer organisations the production and sale of baskets grew. Baskets sold within Botswana and were also exported to the United States, Canada and Europe. In 1977 the National Museum and Art Gallery, Gaborone, began a tradition of holding annual baskets exhibitions. In 1979, 80, 81 the exhibition was held in collaboration with Botswanacraft in the form of a competition, helping to ensure the continued high quality of design and craft. "
Baskets and Taestry Exhibition Leksand/Stockholm