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African Folklore Embroidery
by L'Tanya Durante

Leora Raikin, founder of African Folklore Embroidery (AFE), is on a mission to educate people about South Africa. AFE uses a fresh approach to fulfill this mission by combining craft with education. African folklore embroidery is about color and creativity. It is a combination of the needle arts, fiber arts and visual arts; an art form that incorporates simple stitches and broad colors on a black background (specifically primary colors using the chain stitch) with teaching about life in South Africa. “Through the different stitches, we weave in the different cultural and education aspects of South Africa,” says Leora, a South African native.

“There are 11 official languages in South Africa. Each tribe has its own set of customs and traditions; its own language.” As a result, accessing information about tribes and traditions can be difficult. Leora gets information by going home frequently and going into the different tribal areas, spending time and buying products. “All of AFE’s products, designs, threads are from there,” she explains.

Leora has taught African folklore embroidery at museums, schools, guild workshops, private classes, art and summer camps, and countless classes and organizations. Workshops generally give participants a number of different designs to choose from -- from village and tribal scenes to baskets and animal life – all with unique focal points.

“While doing the stitches, people are learning about and exploring different wildlife, for example, which animal is the heaviest or the largest or runs the fastest,” Leora explains. Leora also is sure to include her personal experiences when she does go on safari and sees the animals up close and how different it is not seeing these animals in cages or at a zoo. She may also use the opportunity to discuss the symbiotic relationship between the animals, e.g., why do all the other animals keep an eye on the giraffe – danger, fire. It makes sense that giraffes would be the first to spot danger, but I never thought of it before. Workshops are probably full of similar “ah-ha” moments.

AFE’s mission is twofold. Since the country has a 30% unemployment rate, AFE brings work to an area that desperately needs it. “In terms of thread dyeing, fabric cutting, and designing, we’re providing employment,” says Leora. In an effort to assist with education and care for families with AIDS, AFE is also affiliated with various AIDS-related charities there. The Kitzpositive™ Family Fund is dedicated to improving the health of HIV-positive children in South Africa. She explains, “On our website, we carry beaded items that are made by moms with AIDS and whose kids have AIDS. We purchase the products directly. It’s their main source of income.”

As one can imagine, from Girl Scout troops to mother/daughter classes, lectures and workshops in African folklore embroidery are in great demand. Leora is able to meet that demand by offering an educator program to train people to teach others. While there are several educators in various states in the United States and in Canada who have been trained to lecture in different tribal traditions and teach African folklore embroidery, the educator program is open. “If someone is interested in becoming an educator, the most important thing is passion and enthusiasm. I tell people to do one {kit}, and see if you like it and then we’ll talk. If they really love it and want to teach others, they can purchase and make 5-10 kits, and get the training materials,” she says.

Leora Raikin is clearly passionate about African folklore embroidery and educating people about life in South Africa. Its increasing popularity is proof that creative learning of this type is a welcomed alternative to more traditional forms of teaching about culture and history. If only everything could be taught this way.

African folklore embroidery is fun and bold and comes with only one rule – your stitches do not need to be perfect. In her workshops Leora emphasizes that “there are no needle art police. Whatever color you choose to stitch in is the right color. There’s no wrong color. If you choose to stitch one of your trees yellow or your giraffe purple, go for it!" She also reminds us all that imperfection is more representative of life, because life isn’t perfect. It’s more about a tapestry and weaving…

…and the freedom of yellow trees and purple giraffes!

L'Tanya is the Publisher/Editor of Black Purl Magazine.
She enjoys all things ethnic and crafty and
juggles her time between her two boys, husband, cat and her needlework.

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