Mwamba Kasonde

Glass Workshop Manager

Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your role within the company?  

My name is Mwamba kasonde, I'm 39 years old and I live in Kukumbi chiefdom in a village called Mboola where I live with my wife and 3 children. I started working with Tribal in 2013, as a gate man. Before this I was wood carver, and so I would sell my wood carvings at Tribals artisan market and then in 2018 I started running the glass workshop, which is what I still do today.  

Why did you pick Tribal Textiles? 

Tribal Textiles is offering so many different types of jobs with different skill sets. I spotted the company on the road and saw what they were doing and so I introduced myself to Julie who was working for Tribal at the time as a manager and she gave me a space at the artisan market.  

Ever Evolving Creativity

How has your role evolved overtime? 

A couple from South Africa called Magda and Rufas came to help with the artisan market and they both came up with the idea of the glass recycling workshop and so as I had already been working closely with them, they asked me to start running the workshop for them. 

I started making recycled tumbler glasses, glass beads and cheese platters. The glass workshop was growing slowly until Jen & Jannis came in and presented some new ideas like making tiles, patchwork, lampshades, chandeliers etc. 

Now we actually struggle to find glass due to the amount of recycling that we are doing – especially clear! And any special colours like blue.

There needs to be waste collection for us to be able to push even further, which unforunatelydoesnt exist right now in Mfuwe.  

Inspiring Colleagues

Tell us about a colleague past or present who was inspiring to you. 

Jannis and Jen. Jannis was an intern who came to Tribal, he was very talented in making designs and coming up with new techniques. And I can say the same for Jen, especially with designs and aiming ahead for bigger and better things. 

Can you share a memorable moment you have had at Tribal Textiles? 

I think just being part of the glass workshop and recycling movement is a memory in itself – this project has made my name – I'm well known for all the different skills I now have. Well known by management, my colleagues and locally too. 

How would you describe Tribal Textiles? 

Tribal is a very good company which I never thought would be possible in Zambia because it works with a different type of person – from different tribes and offers different skills which can help you to succeed in your life and your needs.