Khetu Khamba means “We are roots” in Bitonga, a Bantu language spoken in southern Mozambique among other regions. After this name, a project was born in 2016 with the aim of strengthening the production of traditional handicrafts from isolated communities, revaluing the unique and simple design of its products and promoting handicrafts as a sustainable way of life.
Along with founder Sara García, Alumni Raquel Llaberia is one of the promoters of the project, which was selected in this year’s Elisava Crowdfunding Challenge. Khetu Khamba works with the Linga-Linga community, in the Inhambane province, a region in Mozambique known for its craftsmanship of products made from palm leaves, among other local materials.
The artisans of the Linga-Linga community make palm leaf baskets and bags respecting their environment, Morrumbene Bay, an area with a rich biodiversity and a privileged location in coastal areas. At Linga-Linga they design and create hand-woven products, with a technique that is transmitted from generation to generation from the straw obtained from the palm. Each piece is unique and symbolizes a return to the essential and to the imperfection through simplicity.
“Although Khetu Khamba products are surely not perfect, each of their imperfections are a symbol of their perfect exclusivity” explains Raquel. Artisan products have been designed for the daily activities of the communities and have evolved over time, responding to the need and use that different communities have given it. Therefore, they have both useful and aesthetic value and are part of the cultural heritage of the region.
