At the second edition of the Crafts Market that Brazzaville has just hosted, craftsmen who shape leather came to exhibit their know-how. Those who use leather to make shoes made in Congo distinguished themselves during this meeting, now presented as a showcase for craftsmen who call on the authorities to build a permanent market for them.
From our correspondent in Brazzaville,
It is in a cramped space in the city center of the capital that the Crafts Market was held. It brought together around a hundred craftsmen from the Congo, five other countries on the continent and even India. Visitors notably discovered Gladis Koumou, a Congolese craftsman who often wears impeccable outfits. His daily work: making leather shoes.
Where does he find raw material? Gladis Koumou replies: “ It’s a patchwork (a set) of everything: ox skins, called ordinary leather, come from Italy. Alligator skins, we buy them in America; those of the Nile crocodile, we take them in Vietnam. The dyes to make the colors, we buy them in France“, he explains to RFI.
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“Made in Congo” shoes
He presents the different stages of manufacturing leather shoes, very popular with the Congolese. “The shoes are first assembled in Taiwan and China by the craftsmen who are there. Afterwards, it comes back to us here in semi-finished mode. And, my craftsmen present here do the finishing, like what you are seeing. There, we are finishing to finally deliver to a customer“says the craftsman.
For Gladis Koumou, it is indeed shoe brandsmade in Congo. « Because it’s drawing in the Congo. Everything is done according to our specifications and according to our standards. That’s why I call it the African spirit brand. In addition, these are shoes made to measure within two weeks, because the African does not like to wait“, he rejoices.
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Obtain government support to highlight this craft
From now on, to better express their talent, exhibit and sell, Congolese artisans are asking the government to build a permanent market for them. Pascaline Makoundo is a painter. “If we can create this market, we should think about setting up a gallery for painters there, because painters cannot exhibit in the open air. It’s not good for them», indique Madame Makoundo.
► Also to listen: Marketplaces to promote African products and know-how
Minister of SMEs and Crafts, Jacqueline Lydia Mikolo has an answer to the complaints of craftsmen. “We often exchange with artisans. I don’t want to scoop. We exchange. The craftsmen and craftswomen will have a permanent place and the Prime Minister will take care of announcing it“, she assures.
The ambition displayed by the authorities is to make crafts a dynamic private sector. It already contributes 20% to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).