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Craftsmen to showcase talent at exhibition in Dar
2006-05-31 07:58:09
By Correspondent, Austin Beyadi
More than eighty exhibitors are expected to showcase their handicrafts during the eighth annual Tanz Hands exhibition to be held in Dar es Salaam on Friday.
Speaking to the press yesterday, the Canadian Ambassador to Tanzania, Dr Andrew Mc Alister, said the aim of the exhibition is to provide an opportunity for the craftsmen to display and sell their products to the larger public.
He said Tanz Hands provides the opportunity to explore Tanzania’s rich tradition of creating handicrafts and give the opportunity to the craftsmen to sell their items.
He said the event will bring together craftsmen from all over the country and they will have an opportunity to share ideas in various issues related to their trade.
He said handicrafts play a unique role in conserving tools and techniques of Tanzanian cultural history while encouraging the creation of new items and designs that help the products evolve.
He said the first Tanz hands exhibition was held in 1999 and it was the brainchild of Edwina Hammond, a wife to the then Canadian High Commissioner to Tanzania in an effort to unite and promote Tanzanian handicraft producers.
The event is organised by volunteers who believe in handicraft products of Tanzania and who wish to support the craftspeople behind them, he said.
He said that handicrafts, large and small, such as wood, leather and sisal items as well as needlework, batik and tie-dye cloths, jewellery, toys, woven cloths and ceramics will be on display and also for sale.
He said since the start of the exhibition, the programme has benefited more than 500 small-scale businessmen in the handicrafts section promoting them in international market.
He said the local craftsmen need to be well organised and co-operative when exporting their products overseas, as two or more craftsmen can hire one container, hence saving money.
He further said this year’s event is sponsored by Barricks Gold Mine, Security Group, and FRASSERS.
Barrick Gold donated USD 2,000 for the event to be held at the Canadian High Commissioner’s residence.
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