Angeline Masuku

Angeline Bonisiwe Masuku was born in 1967 in Hlabisa, Umkhanyakude District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. Masuke was taught to weave at eight years of age by her late aunt, Khawulina Gcwensa, who was a master weaver in her own right. Her creative way of weaving baskets was developed when she was 18, and as a result, her baskets are fashioned of grass and ilala palm in a variety of sizes and shapes.

Masuku is the owner of a business in KwaHlabisa Mpembeni where she makes and sells handcrafted Zulu baskets. Her baskets have been purchased locally and internationally by customers in Germany, Italy, Kuwait, and the United States, as well as in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Atlanta, and New York. She took part in multiple courses on basketry and took home the first medal in the 2006 FNB VITA Craft show.

Masuku continues to share her knowledge with her daughter and other women whom she crafts baskets with. She believes that training women to weave will help them succeed financially and economically.

Sources:

https://shop.kznsagallery.co.za/collections/angeline-masuku [Accessed 17 August 2024]

https://latitudes.online/artists/angeline_masuku [Accessed 17 August 2024]

https://folkartmarket.org/ifamartiststories/angeline-bonisiwe-masuku-trading

[Accessed 17 August 2024]

Link to Hlabisa Baskets publication:

https://ccac.concourttrust.org.za/uploads/files/CCAC_Art-Justice_Hlabisa-Baskets_Digital.pdf