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Oshiwa Hand Carved Photo Frames
The Oshiwa Photo Frames shown on our site were hand carved by Paulus Mutunda, Joseph Kanwa and Dhumba Joseph, skilled craftsmen from the north-eastern region of Kavango, Namibia, who have plied their craft as woodcarvers for centuries.   Oshiwa also produced hand carved printing blocks for textiles, paper and ceramics until 2010, but due to the economic downturn, production of printing blocks has been suspended.

Joseph Kanwa has returned to his home in Kavango, where he continues to do woodcarving for the tourists trade.  Joseph receives 25% of income received by Oshiwa, from blocks sold on Etsy.  Oshiwa perseveres, through Rayela Art on Etsy, with efforts to increase sales of print blocks in order to assist Josef.  All original production and material costs, and now ongoing marketing and maintenance costs, are carried by Oshiwa. Paulus Mutunda continues to produce photo frames at Oshiwa, while Dhumba has been able to transfer the specialized skills developed at the Oshiwa framing workshop, to Studio 77 Gallery in Windhoek.

Jakopo Sipoya, the first carver to work with Oshiwa, has since passed away.  He spoke with fond memories of hunting trips with his father, a Master Carver, and life as a child on the banks of the Kavango River, still the main life source of the Kavango people.  Traditionally, Kavangos have lived by fishing, tending cattle and cultivating maize and millet; the younger generation usually seek their livelihood in urban areas.  Jakopo often spoke of the dire need of his people: victims of war, transgressors from neighbouring Angola, who, after several generations, are often still not recognized as citizens of Namibia. He spoke of the scourge of alcohol and the loss of tradition. The arduous process of carving demands a patience not readily accepted by youth - slowly but surely, the carving tradition is dying out.

The hardship of the carvers’ lives are reflected in long journeys between their homes in Kavango, and the capital of Namibia, Windhoek, where many people from the northern areas work.  Overnight journeys in hot, crowded, and unsafe transport bring them back to their homes, often for illness or funerals. Competition from traders and craftsmen from outside Namibia and rising costs of materials, threaten their livelihood. 

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