| Hadiza, Handicrafts pioneer | |
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ITV Mrs Fatouma Sani Mourou, Minister of Handicrafts, Niger « We started with very little. Handicrafts in Niger provide work for 600 to 900 people with women accounting for 52% of that figure. Our training sessions are quite sophisticated: we brought in a designer from Europe to help them improve the finished quality of their work without losing their uniqueness. » Approximately fifty women have taken part in the training sessions. They learn marketing as well as new techniques and working methods. Hadiza is from the south, she crossed the entire country to reach Niamey and settled here. She has been taking classes in marketing and dressmaking. This morning, as usual, she goes to her workshop – but today is a special day: it is the beginning of the SAFEM – the International Women’s Handicrafts Salon. Hadiza is counting on putting her newly acquired marketing skills to the test. ITW Hadiza, Artisan « When you don’t know how to highlight your work it tends to go unnoticed. If there is nothing eye-catching for the passerby they won’t stop – even if there are nice things on sale. He or she might see someone else wearing the garment and say: «Hey, that’s nice ! Where did you get it ?» When the person says they got it at a stand in the SAFEM they’ll be surprised because they didn’t see anything… You have to know how to catch people’s attention. » Hadiza now knows that she will have to remain creative if she is going to develop her trade – that means coming up with new designs, diversifying her range and mixing styles. One of her specialities is Peul or Tuareg embroidery on Bazin tissue. One problem she faces is finding certain materials and tools: the bazin comes from Europe as does the thread she uses for embroidery. She has overcome this problem by making a wider range of products and working with locally available materials, such as leather and silver. She set up her small workshop 15 years ago and now has a team of craftspeople working with her to produce goods adapted to modern tastes.
ITV Hadiza, Artisan « When I make fashion accessories, such as buttons or bags, they are not traditional. However I do use traditional materials that I adapt for a contemporary clientele, whether they are foreigners or from Niger.» It is not always easy to travel to the training centres. Micro-loans have been introduced to enable inhabitants of remote areas to set up in business but they come with strict guidelines and monitoring. This doesn’t bother Hadiza: she always finds a solution. Her customers come from all over the region and see her as a shining example for women’s handicrafts in Niger. ITV Mamane Ibrahim, client (General Manager for the Environment and the campaign against desertification in the Tahoua region.) « When you look at the work done by women like Hadiza, you can see that they use traditional techniques that have been improved to make them both practical and pleasing. There is a need for training to help marry traditional and modern styles without neglecting the cultural aspect. These women really need financial support from banks and other financial organisations so they can develop their skills and improve their products. » According to Aïchatou Kané, the SAFEM coordinator, women’s creative output in handicrafts is key to developing the sector. Some French organizations in Niger, aware of this untapped potential, are funding a project to train 260 women. Itv Aïchatou Kané, SAFEM Coordinator « In parallel with this project we need to see other steps being taken so that the 260 women will get the help they need to inspire thousands of others to follow their example.» Discussion between Aïchatou Kane and an artisan from the sub-region (in jerma dialect) – sous-titres Ms Kané – Do you need training? Female artisan – Of course! Ms Kané – But why? You already make a living selling your products. Female artisan – Yes I already sell what I make - but everybody needs to move on and learn new things. Women artisans in Niger pass their skills on from mother to daughter. Increased trade links with other countries mean that they have modernised their products without losing the traditional ‘ethnic feel’. While the SAFEM remains a valuable showcase for handicrafts it is only staged every two years and is temporary. Hadiza thinks the solution would be to have a permanent exhibition hall. ITW Hadiza, Artisan « We could have a big store or a gallery here. We could exhibit the best handicraft products which people could then order regularly. That way visitors would see the work all year round - the SAFEM is only once every two years. If the women could produce their work wherever they live and send it here it would be like having a permanent SAFEM. » The idea definitely looks worth developing. It is up to the authorities in Niger to take it to the next level.
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