The Mkhize, Mtungwa and Zuma Families, Ntsongweni

The Mkhize family of artisans, which includes Nomfundo Mkhize, Maria Mkhize, Joyce Mkhize and Phumzile Mkhize, forms part of a broader intergenerational network of crafters living in the Ntshongweni Valley outside Durban that also includes members of the Zuma and Mtungwa families. Brought together by shared faith, community connection and a deep commitment to traditional weaving, these families have cultivated a collaborative practice rooted in mutual respect and collective making.

The Mkhize’s first connected with the Mtungwas through their local church, and have long shared close ties with the Zumas as neighbours in Ntshongweni. Over time, these relationships evolved into a cohesive, multi-family creative practice. Today, they work together at the Zuma homestead, a site of continuous learning, exchange, and shared production.

The families’ engagement with craft dates back to a 1997 community-based training initiative aimed at equipping residents with artisanal skills. While several members began learning earlier, a more formal collaboration emerged in 2014 when Nomfundo Mkhize and other family members joined forces to strengthen their shared practice. Their approach is shaped by intergenerational knowledge transfer and a strong sense of cultural continuity.

Specialising in grass weaving, the collective produces a range of functional and decorative objects that reflect the materials, textures, and visual languages of rural KwaZulu-Natal. Their work honours tradition while nurturing family bonds.

 Phumzile Mkhize

Phumzile Mkhize was born in 1970 and lives in Ntshongweni, KwaZulu-Natal. She is a skilled weaver who works primarily with natural plant fibres such as induma and incema to create handwoven mats and other aesthetic forms. Mkhize learnt the craft from other women in her community and continues to practise in close conversation with local traditions and materials.

Her work is shaped by what she describes as an “intimate and accurate” approach to weaving: one that values precision, care, and a deep connection to process. Mkhize’s designs feature bold geometric motifs and subtle tonal variations, reflecting both a grounded aesthetic and an intuitive sense of pattern. Each piece balances utility with visual clarity, offering insight into her quiet but deliberate visual language.

Samkelo Mtungwa 

Born in 2003, Samkelo Mtungwa is a mat weaver based in Ntshongweni, KwaZulu-Natal. Taught by his mother, the experienced artisan Thokozile Mtungwa, he continues the family tradition of working with locally harvested grasses such as induma and incema. His mats feature bold geometric patterns and demonstrate a growing command of the coiling and stitching techniques passed down through generations.

Through close collaboration with other weavers in the region, Samkelo brings a fresh perspective to a deeply rooted practice, contributing to the continuity and evolution of grass weaving in contemporary KwaZulu-Natal.

Thokozile Mtungwa 

Born in KwaZulu-Natal in the early 1970s, Thokozile Mtungwa is an experienced mat weaver currently based in Ntshongweni. Her early training in basketry and weaving came under the mentorship of celebrated master weaver Beauty Ngxongo from Hlabisa, whose influence is evident in Mtungwa’s disciplined technique and refined sense of form.

Working primarily with locally harvested grasses such as induma and incema, Mtungwacreates woven mats with distinctive geometric designs. Her work is distinguished by precise construction and balanced visual rhythm, developed over decades of practice and collaborative exchange with other women weavers in her community.

Bonisile Zuma 

Bonisile Zuma was born in 1954 in KwaZulu-Natal and is currently based in Ntshongweni. She is an accomplished ilala palm weaver whose practice spans more than two decades. She began weaving in 1997 under the mentorship of the late Mamkhize Cele, a respected community artisan who trained her in the techniques of ilala weaving and product shaping. Zuma also draws inspiration from Zenzele Gamede, whose support early in her journey reinforced her commitment to craft.

Working primarily with ilala palm and other forms of basket reed and locally grown plants, Zuma produces a range of coiled and woven forms that reflect her technical skill and deep knowledge of local materials. Environmental forms and everyday material culture play a central role in shaping her design approach. In addition to her work with ilala palm, Zuma has also been trained in hard wire weaving and holds formal certification recognising her artisanal expertise.