Reviving old technology? Rural handicraft production in Southern Africa

The imperative for expanding employment opportunities in manufacturing activities in the developing world has led to increasing attention being devoted to issues of small-scale industrialization. In the present paper one element of small-scale production little studied by geographers is examined, namely, the sphere of rural handicrafts. Against a background of a survey of contemporary debates on the development potential of rural handicrafts, an examination is pursued of the historical evolution and current situation of rural craft producers in Southern Africa. Issues of concern include the organization of rural producers, the nature of the production system and the differentiation among rural handicraft schemes in the region.