Africa-Press – Angola. Many young people set out on their own initiative to conquer a share of the market, to make their case and put food on the table. Liberal professions, which allow you to work solo, waiting for a reconversion to the formal economy, are part of the package, which moves with entrepreneurs, with defined space, raw material for sustainability and even dreams of high flights, perhaps some more for the personal vault and… the way forward is, hoping that other young people with innate talent, but still to be “polished”, because hidden, are equally companions on the road.
It is not easy for entrepreneurs to grow and show up. It is still difficult to show up and win in a competitive market, with well-defined rules, where the quality of work speaks volumes. They still walk without the cane supporting the benches. Anonymous, until you see. We believe that they are in the thousands all over the national space, hence that once reconverted to the formal system, they would be yet another contribution to the “blue bag” of all of us.
Young people have a common denominator: they work in rented places; a strong bond, the determination to win; a dream, succeed in life, have your own space and financial independence. At first sight, they are good at what they do and are aware that there are many talented young people waiting for a breath, to come out of the cocoon and show up.
full time artist
Daniel Neves de Almeida Barros, 21 years old, born in Sambizanga, dedicates himself to handicrafts in Cacuaco, in basketry with reeds. The artist, who does not descend from a family of artisans, started at the age of 18, with a practical training course, in one of the arts and crafts schools in Morro da Luz, in Luanda, where he spent five years. He reveals the Angolan talent, who is also a musician, reciter and theater actor.
“I started out as a trainee, then as a manager and now I’m in the private sector, where I run my own business. What I do most are baskets, chairs and tables, but in my activity I have to be versatile and I already work in roofing with reeds on frames in iron for chairs and armchairs”, he said, informing that “this material, reeds, does not exist in Luanda. We have to order the famous mbamba from Malanje, Uíge, Moxico and Cabinda”.
“I’ve been here in Cacuaco for six months and managed to gain a flow of customers that I didn’t expect. I’m receiving many orders, such as armchairs, swings. We’ve already been contacted to make baskets for Valentine’s Day gifts. This motivates and stimulates us lend more quality to our products, satisfying customers”.
Daniel Neves recognizes that he has a market for what he does, “currently I see some purchasing power. Young as I am, I face the competition and manage to straighten things out in the profession that I chose”, he believes, regretting that “I have not participated in fairs and other events to advertise my work. But I don’t feel complex about it”.
The interviewee is in a demanding productive period, which is why he has the support of four young employees, still in the learning phase, “they are with me from morning until noon. They are free classes for young people aged 15 and under and for girls over 20 years old pay a symbolic fee. I do this so that our culture has continuity”.
As for the future, the art maker dreams of producing an iconic work, like Samanyonga, the Tchokwé thinker, known in the four corners of the planet. And he cherishes a goal in academic terms, “finish a degree in handicrafts or arts”, advances Daniel Alves, who attends the first year of law. entrepreneurship, to own your own space, your own work, think positively and put food on the table”.
Twist the “cucumber”…
Leonor Dongala Nunes is another young entrepreneur who accepted the challenges of going solo and does her best to conquer the niche market that Caxito offers. “I’m a milliner. I’ve been doing cutting and sewing for ten years,” she informs, revealing that her chosen profession follows on from an exercise she’s been doing since she was young, “as a girl I was always inclined to play with dolls. Sewing their little dresses, shorts for the dolls, keeping them clean and beautiful, was part of me.”
In childhood it was curiosity and whim. Today, in her 30s, she says that “the world is very creative and, in this, I learned to draw and sew with a master, but I didn’t stop there. I took a course in this specialty”, confirms Leonor Dongala, who as an entrepreneur resorts to warehouses to purchase raw materials, essential for daily needs.
Today, Leonor Dongala is like a fish in water in her chosen profession and a true breadwinner. “I work women’s, men’s and children’s pieces. I make pants, shirts, dresses, skirts, among others”, explains the seamstress, who, as for prices, informs that they depend on the quality of the fabrics and the work itself. “I have prices from five to 20 thousand Kwanzas. Due to time and experience, I have a market in Caxito”.
As for another factor of production, the sewing machine, the interlocutor feels radiant because in the beginning she was given one by her brother. “Today I already got the second one… so I can count on a helper.
In the world of fashion and recycling
Nkiambi Henriques, 24 years old, born in the municipality of Bembe, in Uíge, has been a photographic model for some time now, encouraged by a professional who noticed her natural talent and potential to excel in these endeavors. The girl of the arts also tries her luck in the fashion variant, which has the catwalks stage, with fashion shows in the mix. The interlocutor clarifies that in the world of fashion financial compensation is based on activity and “yes, it’s enough to put food on the table”.
Being in the high-wheel is not easy for the model. The religious tendency is creased in it. “I come from a devout family and I had to balance both worlds, and I realized that I can be part of both without going beyond my limits. From then on, I joined a modeling agency in Luanda, in the Uíge neighborhood, where I manage to combine art and religion ”.
The model, who is also a hairdresser, with a space in Caxito, adds that many young people do not look favorably on this professional variant, “there is still some taboo around this activity, because some models present themselves with some nudity. daring, which they sometimes wear, makes the area be compared to a prostitution den”, he said, informing that “being on this side of the world, the look is different from those on the outside”.
In the chosen métier, Nkiambi (which in Kikongo means: what’s wrong?) Henriques commits himself body and soul, because he is very competitive and “nobody wants to show their weakness. Everyone wants to show that they are capable, that they can and he succeeds”, reveals Nkiambi Henriques, whose biggest dream is to reach as far as possible, “wherever God allows me to reach. For young people who are shy, I challenge them to leave their comfort zone and show their hidden talent to the world, helping themselves and others”.
Another young man linked to image and good looks is Pascoal Jorge, “Lesta” as he is known in Cacuaco, due to his technique and expertise in cutting hair. social, from celebrities to young children escorted by their parents.
“Lesta” started working in 2005, aged 18. Today she feeds her family with what she does. “You can put food on the table and pay for your son’s schooling. I charge from 700 to 500 kwanzas per customer, which I have enough. Unfortunately I don’t have my own space, I’m renting and I pay 13,000 kwanzas a month to update my professional skills”, informs the interviewee, who dreams of having his own space to develop the art he makes.
Recycle and rehabilitate
Victorino Domingos is a master at recycling plastic material. He practices basketry in Caxito. He taught himself what he does, out of mere curiosity and a desire to overcome stress. Today what he does is his livelihood. “In 2017 I broke my link with the association where I worked, I had a lot of free time and nothing to do, so I looked for a way to occupy myself. I grew up making music, at the time I didn’t have a guitar and decided to do manual art”.
Every working day, Victorino, sitting in the shade of an American acacia tree, in the public square next to the Provincial Office of Former Combatants, works and recycles plastic tapes that give consistency to balloons, producing chairs, baskets for clothes, for shopping , mats, bottle linings; artifacts similar to those made with reeds and staff. He confesses that with a few flaws, you can put food on the table. “This vase that is in production costs five thousand kwanzas. My prices vary from 100 kwanzas to 12 thousand kwanzas, depending on the complexity of the pieces. Due to the speed of the work, slow by nature, I have customers, as much as I can, who buy what I make”.
The craftsman makes the best use of plastic material by recycling it, thus contributing to adding value to an environmental pollutant. “The activity is an added value for the environment. I don’t look for my raw material much. Some I get from donations. I buy the white material”, guarantees the 37-year-old, who dreams of putting what he he does it in a studio. However, while he works, he has the responsibility of passing the experience on to the younger ones. “I’ve had many apprentices who are now independent, who already work for themselves”.
When it comes to restoring different types of furniture to a new look, Mbuasikidi Miguel is the master of “art”. Born in Maquela do Zombo, Uíge, he began at the age of 27, in 2002, under the eye of of a master who sent him to work with wood, plywood, cloth coverings, nappa and leather to give another image and color to different variants of furniture.
Today, the master, as he is affectionately known in Cacuaco, at the entrance to the 4 de Fevereiro-Ecocampo neighbourhood, gives letters and cheers to the different customers who knock on the door of the rented space where he works, to order furniture. “This is my livelihood. I work to the customer’s liking. In addition to this activity, I give a boost to the four boys who are with me. One of them I already consider a master”, he said.
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