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Amelia Sello, South African Migrant & Artist, 1984
Amelia Sello was born in South Africa. She began working as a dressmaker at the age of twelve due to financial necessity. Her husband was forced to flee South Africa because of the political situation and in 1976 Amelia followed him to Botswana. In 1984 Amelia and her family arrived at the Enterprise Migrant Hostel in Melbourne, after eight years living as refugees in Botswana and Zimbabwe. During this time Amelia had supported her family by sewing, often selling her goods at markets.
Amelia initially found life in Melbourne difficult and experienced alienation, lack of support, feelings of powerlessness and poor food. She established the African Women's Group as a means of helping fellow African migrants avoid similar initial experiences of life in Australia. The group encompassed a range of African linguistic and cultural groups and many of the craft traditions undertaken by the group were unfamiliar to some of the members. Like many craft groups established along broad lines the work undertaken by the group represents a more generalised form of cultural expression.
ReferencesDeborah Tout-Smith & Anna Malgorzewicz (1992). Contemporary Craft and Cultural Identity Project. MoV and Monash Uni History Dept
(showing 1 - 8) 8 items
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Dress - African Women's Group, Chitenge, Melbourne, circa 1990-1992
Dress (Chitenge) made by the African Women's Group, circa 1990 - 1992. This type of garment is worn by women throughout Africa as a ceremonial or formal dress. However, older women wea ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 1 -
Skirt - African Women's Group, Setswane, Melbourne, circa 1990-1992
Alternative Name(s): Kaiba, Sesotho Skirt made by the African Women's Group, circa 1990-1992 in Melbourne. This item is one of nine purchased from the African Women's Group, which was ...
Images: 1 -
Dress - African Women's Group, Setswane, Blue Cotton, Melbourne, circa 1990-1992
Alternative Name(s): Chikisa Dress made by the African Women's Group, circa 1990-1992 in Melbourne. This item is one of nine purchased from the African Women's Group, which was establis ...
Images: 1 -
Skirt - African Women's Group, Lekgabe, circa 1990-1992
Alternative Name(s): Lekgabe Skirt made by the African Women's Group, circa 1990-1992 in Melbourne. This item is one of nine purchased from the African Women's Group, which was establi ...
Images: 1 -
Loin Cloth - African Women's Group, Tshega, Melbourne, circa 1990-1992
Alternative Name(s): Tshega Loin cloth made by the African Women's Group, circa 1990-1992 in Melbourne. This item is one of nine purchased from the African Women's Group, which was esta ...
Images: 2 -
Shirt - African Women's Group, Tashiki, Orange & Black, Melbourne, circa 1990 - 1992
Alternative Name(s): Tashiki Shirt made by the African Women's Group, circa 1990-1992, in Melbourne. This item is one of nine purchased from the African Women's Group, which was establ ...
Images: 1 -
Bowl - African Women's Group, Papier Mache, Melbourne, 1992
Alternative Name(s): Dish Papier Mache bowl made by the African Women's Group, in Melbourne, 1992, as part of a programme to maintain traditional skills as well as pass such skills on t ...
Images: 3 -
Bowl - African Women's Group, Papier Mache, Melbourne, 1992
Alternative Name(s): Dish Papier Mache bowl made by the African Women's Group, in Melbourne, 1992, as part of a programme to maintain traditional skills as well as pass such skills on t ...
Images: 3
