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Oodi Weaversentswe
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The small village of Oodi is the first village along the Francistown road on the right, some 20km from Gaborone. It is best known for the internationally acclaimed Lentswe-la-Odi (Rocky Hills of Oodi) weavers. The cooperative was established in 1973 by Swedes Ulla and Peder Gowenius, who trained local residents to spin, dye and weave. Today the entire enterprise is owned by local members of the cooperative.
The weavers produce hand-dyed, hand-spun, hand-woven wall hangings, tablecloths, napkins, jackets, bedspreads and cushion covers depicting village scenes, animals and simple patterns all designed by the weavers themselves. All work produced here is made from new wool which is hand spun on wooden spinning wheels, dyed and permanently mothproofed in big pots over an outside fire and, except for the tapestries, all the finished items can be hand washed.
Many of the tapestries tell a story - often a historical event - so they are not only beautiful works of art but a record of important past happenings.
Visitors are welcome and during the working hours the artists can be seen weaving their colourful creations.
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