Chitungwiza– In the quiet hum of a home in the bustling dormitory town of Chitungwiza, 26-year-old Maxwell Nyakuba is busy at work. With steady hands and an eye for vibrant colour, he transforms thousands of tiny beads into high-fashion handbags, delicate earrings, and traditional baskets.

Nyakuba is an artist, and his medium is beadwork.

For the young man, this isn’t just a hobby; it is a livelihood. “I do art and craft for a living,” he explains, gesturing to the array of finished products scattered around his workspace. “I specialise in beadwork and do handbags, earrings, and baskets.”

His journey into the intricate world of beads is one that spans international borders. Tanaka’s skill wasn’t honed in the streets of Harare, but in Kenya—a country renowned for its colourful Maasai beadwork and robust textile art.

“I learnt how to do this craft in Kenya,” he says. “What inspired me is the art and the beauty of bead work.” That inspiration is evident in his pieces, which blend traditional techniques with a modern, urban aesthetic.

Operating strictly from his home, Nyakuba runs a delivery-only business. “I work at home, I stay in Chitungwiza, but do deliveries to customers,” he says. This model allows him to keep overheads low, focusing his energy on creation rather than maintaining a physical shopfront.

Each piece is a labour of love and patience. A single handbag requires an entire day of focused labour, though the timeline can fluctuate depending on the complexity of the design.

The price tag reflects the time and skill invested. “The prices? Bags differ with sizes and designs,” Nyakuba notes, pointing out items ranging from $15 to $30. While these prices are modest for the craftsmanship involved, they place his products in a competitive market flooded with mass-produced alternatives.

The Struggle for Visibility

Despite the undeniable beauty of his work and the logistical convenience he offers customers, Nyakuba faces a daunting hurdle that no amount of beadwork can fix: the market.

“I don’t have a shop; I just deliver to where the customer is,” he reiterates, highlighting his reliance on word-of-mouth and social media to find buyers. But finding those buyers is becoming increasingly difficult.

“The main challenges I face is the lack of market,” he admits candidly. “I struggle to sell my products because of the poor market prices.”

In an economy where disposable income is stretched thin, artisan crafts—no matter how exquisite—are often viewed as luxuries. The “poor market prices” Tanaka refers to isn’t a reflection of the quality of his work, but the struggle to get customers to pay a fair price for handmade goods when cheaper, machine-made alternatives exist.

As the sun sets over Chitungwiza, Nyakuba continues to thread his beads, hoping for a brighter economic horizon. He is not just asking for customers; he is asking for recognition of the value of art.

For the local business community and potential patrons who appreciate the art of beadwork, he leaves a final, hopeful thought, speaking in the vernacular:

“If only i can get more people knowing and supporting me, I will be able to grow my business. I place all hope in the people of Zimbabwe locally and abroad to support local talent.”

To place your orders and buy his art, Nyakuba can be reached on +263 77 692 9567.