06 Nov 2016

Simon Badiri has not allowed formal profession to stop him from expressing his creative instinct. The health care assistant has learnt to enhance  his hobby of crafting flower pots using paper mache; a unique craft which involves the use of paper pulp for creating beautiful artifacts.

His aim is to take the art of paper mache to another level. And to achieve that, he has established a unique way of crafting eye catching indoor flower pots with unusual materials to this craft theory.

Badiri currently operates from his home in Phuthadikobo ward, Molepolole. His creative and innovative mindset has dared him to work with the popular A4 size paper as opposed to using a newspaper as some of those in the craft prefer.

The Moshupa bred artist has made it only up toform five education level and he has developed the skill of finishing off his product with grhynolite, crack filler and car body filler, prior to spray painting to attain a distinctive fining touch.

“The type of paper I use gives me the much preferred texture. I do not include glue nor bread watered paper mixture,” he said.

Badiri who works at Phuthadikobo Clinic said he started out with only two products, exhibited them to his work mates who showed keen interest in buying them. “They placed an order for 30 more and they were finished on the same day of delivery.”

A batch of 30 flower pots opened many doors for him given the demand from churches, lodges and saloons.

He has hired about five part time workers to help him cope with the demand which he said was now higher than the supply.

Despite the demand, Badiri enjoys fruits of his creative mind and hands. “The rewards are worthwhile so much that sometimes I even think of focusing on the craft alone,” he said.

“I see no competition at all around the village, except for those who use clay to make flower pots, but still my products stand a good chance on market as they are less dense in weight thus making them less fragile when falling to the ground.”

Since paper mache involves use of paper, Badiri has established contact with big organisations which normally give him shredded paper to recycle.

He has so far managed to fully train some students undertaking the school projects and the individuals who showed interest in this field.

He underscored that at the moment he was more interested in training the out of school, and unemployed youth who are passionate in art. ENDS