Eswatini thrives on creativity. In an under-resourced community, one must find new and unique ways to solve problems, especially around finding work. Swazis are very savvy about what they will sell and how they can make a profit. For example, you'll find people in the bus stations running up to you asking if they can carry your bags for ten emalangeni (about 60 cents). I once saw a person who couldn't hear that was selling sign language "cheat sheet" cards that he made himself. One lady tightly stitches fabric over old CDs to create coasters for drinks. What starts as a simple way of making money quickly turns into original art, art that Swazis sell for as little as five US cents.
In hopes of finding photographic material for this piece, I ventured to a place called Swazi Candles near the town of Malkerns. Swazi Candles is famous as a destination to buy small, locally-crafted gifts for friends and family. The location started as a store that sells homemade candlesmade from pure beeswax and shaped into all sorts of designs (usually safari animals). The candles are created one by one with stencils and tools by a store worker sitting right in the middle of the display room. Unfortunately, he was on break when I visited.
