Stepping in Mzuzu, chances are high that you will bump into Masai people patronising the area with their artwork. From shoes, necklaces and other products, the Masai people are selling it all. One of them is Jugeni Merele, a 45-year-old Tanzanian who has become famous in the area due to his colourful hand-made beaded sandals, necklaces and belts that he sells in the northern Malawi city.

Merele’s art work has become fashionable that most Malawians in Mzuzu preferred to wear them even during special occasions such as weddings and parties.

Masai artwork is getting popular in Mzuzu

“I did not expect that people in this country can like my art work. It is amazing that I have more customers than expected. I do make a lot of money out of my art work,” he said.

Apart from selling beaded sandals, the Masai present in Mzuzu also helps people in the bedroom department. Merele offers various traditional sexual enhancement medicines.

With such offers, the Tanzanian has become a darling to couples and sexually-active youths.

The medicine is termed Dawa Ya Nguvu.

According to Merele, the traditional medicine assists in enhancing sexual fun especially if one partner is lacking in a certain aspect.

“Making traditional sexual medicine is my core career. I have been giving couples and youths this medicine and the positive feedback from users have been overwhelming,” he said.

Merele claimed the traditional sexual medicines promote sexual arousal.

“Customers seek sexual herbs for various aims. Some have problems getting it up while some are weak in bed or lack arousal. I have several mixtures that suit specific aims. I do have traditional sexual herbal medicine for erection sustainance, others for rapid sperm production, delayed ejaculation and penis enlargement. Customers have a wide option to get,” he said.

Merele also makes special decorated outfits for a variety of wears.

“Dressing depends on age, gender, place and occasion. I decorate old outfits so that they should look beautiful. Uniforms for particular occasion can be bearded with similar colours. My beadwork plays an important part in the ornamentation of the women’s body and also as an identity of their position in the society,” he said.

Merele said he makes locally beaded head gears for beauty winners and rings.

He said he obtains beads from local raw materials.

“White beads are made from clay, shells and animal bones. Black and blue beads are made from charcoal, seeds, clay, or horn. Red beads came from seeds, woods, gourds and bone. My art work is really traditional and original,” he said.

While in Tanzania, Merele said guests from Europe staying at a camp operated by Masai at Loita Hills enjoy the honour of being taught how to bead by the Masai.

“I am surprised that no Malawian has shown interest to learn how to make bead artworks. Tourists from England want to learn how to make beads. This is an area through which can earn a living as I am doing,” said Merele.

Loveness Phiri, a fan of Masai sandals said she loves the Masai sandals as they are handmade with a touch of Africa in them.

“The style and touch feel African. I cannot really explain it, but these Masai products, especially the sandals, make me feel more African,” she said.

Random interviews in Mzuzu indicate that many people use the traditional Masai sexual enhancement medicine, but none was willing to say anything on record.

The post Masai artworks, tradition in Malawi appeared first on The Nation Online.