Oodi

Lentswe la Oodi Weavers was founded in 1973 as a cooperative owned by the weavers themselves, and it has produced hand-woven wool tapestries ever since, spun, dyed and woven on the premises. What makes the work distinctive is the subject matter: the tapestries tell stories from village life, harvests, weddings, cattle, rainmaking, in figures against plain grounds, designed by the weavers rather than to a set pattern. The workshop is open and pieces are sold directly.

The main sights

• The looms - weavers working on large floor looms in the workshop.
• The narrative tapestries - hand-woven pieces telling village stories in figures.
• The spinning and dyeing - wool processed from raw fleece on the premises.
• The cooperative model - a workshop owned by the weavers themselves since 1973.

When to go

April to September is the most comfortable. Weekday mornings are when the looms are working. The workshop closes at weekends.

Practical notes

Large tapestries are expensive and commissions take months. Production is small and the choice on any given day is limited. There is nothing else in the village for visitors.

Nearby

Mochudi is north, and Gaborone is southwest.

Key facts