As we all know, February is the time of the year when there is love in the air. If you are living in Kampala, I`m certain that you`ve walked past red roses and multiple billboards announcing valentine`s day offers, and concerts.
I, on the other hand, have chosen to show love to some businesses in a blog series titled Inspired by Love. These are products I have used and fallen in love with. I’d like to use this opportunity to share the love with you.
Today, I put the spotlight on Ushindi Creations run by Persist Muwanguzi Businge, a lady who weaves creation into being. I asked Persist to tell me about her business and this is what she shared.
The Birth
Ushindi is a Swahili word which means Victory or Victor, the same meaning as my Surname. I once had a Tanzanian best friend who baptized me the name so I took it on as a sign of my commitment to learning her language for 2 years which I can now speak very well.
My love for creating things with my hands goes way back to when I was about 6 years old. My mother inspired me with her crafty works. She took me on as her apprentice and taught me most of the things she knew then like knitting, weaving, plaiting hair, stitching and many others. She used to make baskets from raphia and “Enjulu” (I don’t know the English word for that), mats (mikeeka) from palm leaves, table mats (ebitambaala) from yarn by crocheting, beaded purses and bead work, wall hangings and sweaters which she taught me how to make. My other siblings-three in total, learnt a thing or two but I wanted to learn it all. We did some painting and drawing too which things all stuck with me. For everything she made, I make a smaller version for myself and I got paid for it. I then took on Fine Art in O and A level. In my Senior six vacation I concentrated on learning bead work and got all the knowledge I needed in that sector, and it paid off.
I went on to do Industrial Art and Design at University where I graduated with a Degree in Industrial Art and Design. While on campus, I learnt how to use looms and other tools for weaving on top of the crocheting my mother taught me. I acquired skills in fabric decoration, Ceramics, Sculpture, Painting, Drawing, Graphics design, Weaving, Multimedia crafts, Installation art and many other things.
The Growth
Creating Art for me was more of a passion than a source of income; most of the things I made, I gave them away as gifts instead of selling them because they were priceless gifts. I created a lot of things ranging from hair accessories, earrings, bangles, jumpers, Ottomans (chairs), lampshades, dresses and many other things.
I never shared or advertised most of my work but those who knew, kept making orders while I gave them things for free.
Light Bulb Moment
One day while attending SFFG (Straight Forward Financial Growth training), we were told to write down a list of income streams and price them, I hadn’t included my artwork. I looked at it as a gift stream. Then I received instruction from God to split and categorize all the things I was doing, advertise them and put them on sale. The Ushindi earrings made it to the top and I priced them and opened up a shop on Jumia as an act of obedience. From that day, I knew I had to make it work. God would wake me up at night and give me an idea of how to make different ear ring styles. He then told me to give out every first -perfect pair of invention to specific people and I’ve been doing that since. The ear rings and accessories have evolved from a pass time venture to a source of income for me.
Today
A number of products are available. They include; earrings, brooches, backpacks, bow ties, fascinators, dresses and skirts, jumpers, t-shirts and paintings.
Place Your Order Today
WhatsApp on +256 781 961854
Facebook –Persist Chambers Ushindi
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