Moments with Kano’s multi-talented craftswoman

Hindatu is a resourceful craftswoman. She said she got the inspiration and passion right from childhood and is presently developing it by acquiring professional skills. “I am actually into different handcrafts like beads making, dying, fabric painting and cookery among other things. Right from childhood, I had a flair for colours and therefore grew up […]

Hindatu is a resourceful craftswoman. She said she got the inspiration and passion right from childhood and is presently developing it by acquiring professional skills.

“I am actually into different handcrafts like beads making, dying, fabric painting and cookery among other things. Right from childhood, I had a flair for colours and therefore grew up to appreciate bringing them together into something very attractive. For cookery too, I got the inspiration through my mother who was into it as I was growing, she did a lot of that and as children, we helped in doing one thing or the order as she cooked and baked for the family and during occasions,” Hindatu says.

She maintains that due to her passion for colours and other artistic productions, she decided to pursue a carrier in Arts and Industrial Design from Kano State Polytechnic starting with an Ordinary Diploma, a Higher National Diploma in textiles from the same school, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education at the National Teachers Institute, Kano and is currently pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Colour Chemistry at Bayero University, Kano (BUK).

“I thank God for bestowing the talent on me and I also thank Him for making it possible for me to put my talent to practice and above all for making me see reason why I should compliment that with professional training in my chosen field and Alhamdulillah it has been so smooth and really shaping the talent,” she says.

She explains that while she learnt cookery from her mum, she started on her own making necklaces, earrings and bracelets, key holders from beads and she later on learnt bead flower vases from an expert at Sabon Gari while her school training in textiles and industrial design aided her ability in dying, fabric painting and T/shirts designing.

She further explained the time and cost effectiveness of the business. “Handcraft, I believe, is not a big deal so long one has interest in it and can be creative. All that is needed is the interest, a little capital and manageable time. For the beads making for instance, with a capital of N2, 000, one can start and regarding time, making one key holder wouldn’t take more than 15 minutes maximum. for the flower vases, I finish one in two hours no matter how big. For a set of jewelry, it depends on the design because there are those that are simple while others could be complicated but still not that expensive,” she explains.

The mother of three and polytechnic lecturer said she markets her craft through friends and relatives at home while she takes her samples to shops around town and those interested place orders for supply. For the catering services, she said she does it on request.

On how she manages the trade, work and family, she says, “It’s all about proper planning but everyone knows that combining the two is really not easy. I have a nanny who helps me take care of them when I am away and since they are all in school, both in the morning and Islamiyyah school in the evening, I manage the time to do what is doable. Therefore, I ensure that I do the hand work when they are away and cater for them when they are back and their father, who has been very supportive and understanding. So it’s all about managing time.”

Family Business

Her husband also helps in doing some of the work while her five-year-old daughter, Amina is also showing great interest.

“Just the way I learnt cooking and lots of things from my mum, my little girl is also exhibiting some interest as she attempts doing everything she sees me doing while her father has even perfected some of the crafts as he helps in making them, provide strategies and suggestions to help move the business forward and even market them. It is really wonderful that the family is all engrossed in it,” she proudly says.

Awards and dreams

To her credit is the award of excellence by the Kano State Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau at the end of her service year. (NYSC) “I was honored with an award of excellence by the Kano State Governor for the knowledge I impacted to students of 13 secondary schools and prisoners too across the state during my NYSC in 2006. I taught the students fabric painting, baking, screen printing, tie and dye, beads making and the likes,” she says.

On her dreams for the trade, Hindatu says she would want to establish a school of handcrafts and vocational training so that people could benefit from her talent. She also looks forward to her works going places and making her famous all over the world – they have already gone as far as Lagos, Abuja, Yobe and Jigawa.

Prices of the products, she said, are affordable depending on the materials used and the complication of the design. The bead jewelries range from N800 to N3, 000 while the flower vases cost between N1, 500 to N3, 000 while the price of the dyed materials and T/shirts are also determined by the cost of the materials used.

The biggest challenge for her, however, seems to be time despite her careful plans. She also has to contend with capital but she says she is managing well.