George Mahaso (South Africa)
George Mahaso was born and grew up in Harare, Zimbabwe. When he was 13 years old, he began to make and sell wire cars so he could earn money to buy clothes for himself, as well as for toys for his seven siblings.
He immigrated to South Africa when he was 23, part of a wave of young artists who were self-taught in creating wire products and sought employment opportunities not available in Zimbabwe. He discovered, along with many other artisans, that when they completed product orders, they were often paid less than initially promised. As he continued to seek opportunities to sell his crafts, George deepened his skills as a wire artist, and added beadwork and more intricate designs.
George married in 1995; he and his wife have four children and now live in Cape Town. He has chosen to work independently from home so he hcan spend more time with his family. He was introduced to African Home in 2010, and has become one of the key designers of their wire and bead menorahs. His attention to detail and ability to turn out high qiality bead work set him apart as a master beadsmith.
