COBBLERATION
Bringing together cobblers, craft and technology
May 5 -10, 2025 | !Khwa ttu San Heritage Center, South Africa
COBBLERATION
is a six day gathering of researchers and artisan cobblers from across the world connected by a shared vision on making and walking, blending indigenous craft, communal design and production, and new technology.
AIM OF THE EVENT
Increase awareness and fundamental knowledge
on walking and making in dialogue with Indigenous voices from different geographical regions and promote knowledge co-creation.
COBBLERATION
invites indigenous cobblers and knowledge holders
(including representatives from San, Saami, Kolhapuri, Diné, Muina Muriu, and Tsal’alh) to share traditional knowledge and craft, and explore the use of natural resources via making and walking, which touches upon much broader and deeper cultural and political realities.
HOW IS THIS DONE?
Indigenous cobblers and knowledge holders,
whose traditions and skilled practices are connected to the lands they inhabit, will engage with each other and participate in performances, workshops, walking tours, a book launch, storytelling, and talks. This first cobblers event will highlight the San heritage linked to the making and wearing of the eland hunting sandal and connected storytelling.
Ju|’hoan cobblers will share their skills in an active N!ang N|osi (traditional hunting sandal) workshop.
COLLABORATING COMMUNITIES
San | Namibia/S-Africa
Common Antilope/eland
Saami Sapmi | Inari, Finland
Reindeer hides
Kolhapuri | India
Buffalo hides
Marwada (leather artisans) Rann of Kutch | India
Buffalo and goat hides
Diné | Navajo, USA
Cow and deer hides
Muina Muriu | Colombia
Palm leaf fibre
Tsal’alh | British Colombia, Canada
Salmon skins
GATHERING ACTIVITIES
• Moccasin-making workshop (Diné, Najavo)
• Sandal-making workshop (San, Namibia)
• Inclusive data management workshop (Datatank)
• Talk on land management, resources and justice
• Guided walking tour to ancestral footprints on the Cape Coast
• Book launch TJU - thoughtful ways of making and walking
• Talk on decolonizing design (Dr. Dori Tunstall, Devika Krishnan, Catherine Willems)
• !Khwa ttu museum tour with Magdalena Luckas
• Ju|’hoan storytelling with |=Oma and |AI!ae Fridrick | Kunta (for
simultaneous translation)
• Jorosi dance and song and framing of the eland connection
• Exhibition on ‘walking tracks’