Africa-Press – Seychelles. Disappointing turnout for arts & craft bazaar
After several months that there has not been a great opportunity for local artisans to showcase and sell their works and other products, one would have expected them to jump at the chance to take part in the FetAfrik Arts & Craft Bazaar, but only around half a dozen of the 20 or so who confirmed their participation turned up yesterday for the first day of the two-day activity.
Being held in the compound of the National Museum of History, the bazaar has been organised by Creative Seychelles Agency through the Cooperative des Artisans, Seychelles with the support of the National Arts and Crafts Council of Seychelles. The artisans had only to bring their products and craft work as all the other logistics like tents, tables, chairs and storage facilities for their products for the two days were being provided according to Colin Albest, chairperson of the Cooperative des Artisans Seychelles.
Mr Albest confirmed that 20 artisans had given their word that they would be taking part in the event but many had various lame excuses when they were contacted again to reconfirm a couple of days before the event.
“It is really disappointing because we put a lot of effort in organising the event. In collaboration with the National Arts and Crafts Council of Seychelles we are doubling our effort to revive and revitalise the arts & craft sector and we would have expected the artisans to welcome this opportunity to come out after so long,” Mr Albest said.
He remarked that often it is the same group of artisans who complain about the lack of market and other opportunity to sell their work and make a living but the fact that they have snubbed this opportunity show a lack of interest and willingness on their part.
He went on to note that it is also often the same artisans who also criticise others when they take the steps to seize opportunities offered to move forward.
Meanwhile Zilida Casimir, one of the artisans present who specialises in making dolls with cloth and other material and dresses them in our traditional and ancient wear for different events, said she welcomed the opportunity to showcase her work but while a few visitors had come by around 1pm, she had not sell one piece of her craft. This even though the price of her dolls starts from R200 onwards.
“I can understand that at this time of the month people are a bit hard up financially but I believe the organisers should have done more to ensure that more tourists visited the activity site,” said Ms Casimir.
A view that was shared by Ridley Rose, another seasoned artisan specialising in coral, coco-de-mer and other material to produce different handicraft pieces. He too said he had not sold one piece of his work by 1pm.
He noted that more publicity should have been given to the activity.
Meanwhile a few people turned up during lunch hour to buy African food from two African ladies who were selling a few homemade dishes.
For his part Mr Albest said that according to the National Arts and Crafts Council of Seychelles, all concerned partners and stakeholders had been informed of the activities and the four-day programme of Africa Day 2022.
Meanwhile the Metisse Band was there to provide live African musical entertainment after 4pm but unfortunately there were no supporters.
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