This post is dedicated to Blog Action Day, where thousands of blogs around the world unite to talk about one theme. This year it is the environment.
Simon Mwangi calls himself a mabati (sheet metal) blacksmith. He takes junk and creates beautiful metal animal sculptures. If you happen by his roadside shop on Ngong Road in Nairobi, you’ll see a number of crocodiles and if you’re lucky, a full sized giraffe.
If you’re in the market for a crocodile, which he sells primarily to hotels, be ready to pay 30,000 Kenya Shillings (about $450). They take about one week to make.
What’s remarkable about Simon, beyond the actual artwork that he fabricates, is that everything he does and works with is made from left over metal junk. Even the welding machines that his team uses are made by the team from leftover metal plates and copper wire. (See an example of the welder at this earlier AfriGadget post)
This is an excellent example of how Africans reuse and recycle to meet their needs. Many times their ingenuity creates thriving businesses, proving that entrepreneurship and environmental needs aren’t mutually exclusive.
(More images in the AfriGadget Flickr Group)
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[...] human ingenuity is simply awesome. Necessity truly does breed innovation, doesn’t it?
http://www.afrigadget.com/2007/10/15/where-the-world-sees-junk-africa-recycles/ PS: Don’t forget to check out the hand made welder that the pictured croc was made [...]
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[...] Simon Mwangi To take full advantage of Flickr, you should use a JavaScript-enabled browser and install the latest version of the Macromedia Flash Player. F.decorate(_ge(’button_bar’), F._photo_button_bar).bar_go_go_go(1579090020, 0);F.decorate(_ge(’photo_notes’), F._photo_notes).notes_go_go_go(1579090020, ‘http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2249/1579090020_a96b042584_t.jpg’, ‘3.1444′); View whiteafrican’s map Taken in (See more photos here) Simon fabricates sheet metal animals for sale to hotels out of old metal junk. Full story is on AfriGadget at:
http://www.afrigadget.com/2007/10/15/where-the-world-sees-junk-a… [...]
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If you write an African blog and are taking part in today’s Blog Action Day, please let me know. I’ll continue to add to this list as the day goes on. AfriGadget -Where the World Sees Junk, Africa RecyclesAfromusing - The Flow of Flotsam Crisscrossed - E-waste, the Downside of the Growing Web Migrations - on African Bird Migration Changes SA Rocks - SA Environment Started it All, Let’s not End it Blue Dreamer -
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there are quite a few south african bloggers rising to the occasion. Here’s a random selection of SA posts: no bad days, sa rocks, notes from underground, anja merret, web addiCT, gottaQuirk, flint.za,Afrigadget, whijo.net, the empire collective, Jenty’s photo-a-day And our contribution to blog action day? A wrap of some green news: read more
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A continuance of my love affair with the Dark Continent. I am continually inspired by the ingenuity of the human mind when the right amount of human spirit is applied: [IMG ] Technorati Tags:design, recycle, africa, ingenuity, innovation
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[...] roundup on Global Voices of posts from Africa. She pointed to a great post on Afrigadget titled Where the World Sees Junk, Africa Recycles. They highlight and artist that not only uses scrap metal to create art but also has built a [...]
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nen Videos - zum Beispiel auch diese verträumte Animation: Aus Afrika Unmöglich ist es, alle Blogs zu sichten. Juliana Rotich hat einige der afrikanischen auf Global Voices zusammengetragen. So gibt sie Beispiele aus Kenia, woAfrigadgetzu Kunst und Müll postet, es auf der Kenya environment news einen Beitrag zu Umweltschutz und Armut gibt, und Rob zum Zusammenhang zwischen der Darfur-Krise und dem Klimawandel schreibt. Eine Serie k
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[...] Your page is on StumbleUpon [...]
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[...] Sheet Metal Croc To take full advantage of Flickr, you should use a JavaScript-enabled browser and install the latest version of the Macromedia Flash Player. F.decorate(_ge(’button_bar’), F._photo_button_bar).bar_go_go_go(1578185543, 0);F.decorate(_ge(’photo_notes’), F._photo_notes).notes_go_go_go(1578185543, ‘http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2343/1578185543_2454ded2ca_t.jpg’, ‘3.1444′); View whiteafrican’s map Taken in (See more photos here) Made from left over metal. Full story is on AfriGadget at:
http://www.afrigadget.com/2007/10/15/where-the-world-sees-junk-a… [...]
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If you write an African blog and are taking part in today’s Blog Action Day, please let me know. I’ll continue to add to this list as the day goes on. The NEST Home - We’re Not Just Talking… AfriGadget -Where the World Sees Junk, Africa RecyclesAfromusing - The Flow of Flotsam Crisscrossed - E-waste, the Downside of the Growing Web Migrations - on African Bird Migration Changes SA Rocks - SA Environment Started it All, Let’s not End it Blue Dreamer -
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[...] of African Blogs2007-10-16Sokari EkineAfriGadget World junk – Africa recycles! I find my more and more of my friends are recycling household waste [...]
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[...] Where the World Sees Junk, Africa Recycles 19 hours ago Erik Hersman / AfriGadget This post is dedicated to Blog Action Day, [...]
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[...] businesses, proving that entrepreneurship and environmental needs arent mutually exclusive. Afrigadget Article [...]
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[...] third windmill powers a cel phone towerhttp://www.afrigadget.com/2007/08/steam heats sausageshttp://www.afrigadget.com/2007/10/15/where-the-world-sees-junk-africa-recycles/sheet metal animalshttp://www.afrigadget.com/2007/11/08/africas-modular-machines/modular machines [...]
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[...] publica Onde outros vêem lixo, África vê reciclagem. As imagens de Simon mostram o ferreiro que transforma ferro-velho em esculturas de [...]
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[...] businesses, proving that entrepreneurship and environmental needs arent mutually exclusive. Afrigadget Article [...]
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[...] Solving everyday problems with African ingenuityPublished: Sat, 09 Feb 2008 23:14:54 +0000 By: Metal Crocodile Art From Scrap MetalWed, 06 Feb 2008 09:49:01 +0000[...] businesses, proving that entrepreneurship and environmental [...]
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[...] Afrigadget publica ‘Donde otros ven basura, África recicla'. Imágenes de Simon el herrero que recicla restos de metales en esculturas de animales. Phil de [...]
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15 October 2007 - 8:05 am - :
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