An elderly couple recall overcoming challenges through determination, creativity
Rafi Aliem and his wife Sumintra Bacchus are senior citizens who face their lives head on, acquiring skills and showing creativity and determination to endure and remain independent in the years ahead.
Growing up in a poor family, dropping out of school at an early age because her family could not afford to keep her in school, and turning to washing pots for a living – for Sumintra Bacchus life was not an easy road. However, always donning a positive character, Bacchus was determined to make the best of her life with the little she possessed.
In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Bacchus, now 65, said she got married at the age of 19 and has 7 children. Although she was faced with many challenges in her early years, Bacchus was sure that someday a miracle would happen that would somewhat better her life.
“About 16 years ago, I was selling on Regent Street and a man from Peru approached me to sell decorative fridge magnets. He made them and brought them here to sell. When he was here, he got scared of the political disturbance of that time and left, leaving behind all the magnets with me. The next year he returned with his pregnant wife and came to me. He asked me for somewhere to stay because he didn’t have anywhere to go and a hotel was expensive. I told him my home is small and I have plenty children but he said he didn’t mind staying under a tent in the yard. I agreed and he stayed at my house for quite some time. While by me he would make these fridge magnets. I observed what he was doing but he never showed me how to make them. Although he allowed me to help him mould the magnets, he never said what the mixture was. When I asked him to show me he told me a lot of wrong things; then he finally said that it was a family secret and that he didn’t want to give it out. I reasoned with him and he eventually decided to show me the complete process,” she recalled.
Opportunity knocks
Bacchus seized the opportunity and learnt quickly. The first fridge magnet she made was one resembling a corilla, the bitter Guyanese vegetable, she disclosed. At first, she reminisced, many were at a loss trying to figure out her shapes, but after years of practice, they are now amazed at the variety she creates. Bacchus has expanded her fridge magnet collection to more than 40 different patterns.
The handmade magnetic stickers are made with cassava starch and wood paste. The starch and paste are then moulded into shapes of local seafood, vegetables and fruits. In addition, Bacchus makes handicraft, wooden key rings, wooden candle holders, and sells scenes of Guyana painted on teacups and plates.
“Making the magnets has become my family secret. My sons, son-in-law and daughter would help me with the glazing of the magnets, but I do most of the mixing and finishing touches. The mixture process involves many stages requiring skills, patience and thought. I mix all the ingredients to a desired dough-like consistency and place it in various moulds to get my shapes. These are then left to dry for three days and are then painted and glazed,” Bacchus explained.
Perfecting her skills at mixing and moulding the fridge magnets, Bacchus started her business, S. Bacchus Unique Arts and Craft, located at Lot D 55 North Sophia.
The artist stated that she loves what she is doing and believes this is the reason why she excels in it. Not having any formal training or education background, Bacchus noted that she invested a lot of time and resources in developing her skills in creating her arts and crafts.
“I give all my thanks to God because although I don’t have any academic qualifications, my God-given talent has helped me to earn something for myself and husband who is blind. Also, years of experience in doing this has perfected my skills. I belief it was God’s work who guided that man to me. Before the man came all I knew was washing pots, looking after children and selling on the street. Now I have a skill which I am able to make a living,” a grateful Bacchus expressed.
The craftswoman has displayed her work at various local exhibitions including GuyExpo, but declared that she needs financial help in expanding her business.
“I love doing this and creating things. This comes easily to me. I have an eye for art. It would be ideal if I can get a showroom where I can display my work. We definitely need financial help to expand my business. It would be great if funds for small businesses like mine would be readily available. Although I receive orders, I would have to wait a long time before I can get paid for them. This limits what I can produce because I would need the money to purchase more materials. Artists like myself, who don’t know anything about marketing on the internet, need assistance in marketing our products internationally,” she requested.
Finding strength in a time of tragedy
Expressing gratitude for his wife’s help, Rafi Aliem, 65, stated he is dependent on her since he lost his sight 12 years ago. Rafi, although totally blind, is artistic in a unique way.
“After I left Kissoon’s Furniture Store, where I went on as a porter and left as a supervisor, I worked as a fisherman. I was about 10 years old when I started making fishing nets. My father made them and I keenly observed him. When he went to work I would practice on my own and after years of practicing I perfected it,” Rafi told Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.
Explaining how he lost his sight, Rafi said he was involved in his village self-help work in North Sophia installing a pipeline. While wiping the sweat off his forehead with his dirty hands some of it went into his eyes and infected them and in a week he completely lost his sight. He disclosed that the area opposite to where he lives was once a big garbage dump and that may have been the reason for the contaminated soil.
“The doctors told me it was a rare eye infection. I went to Trinidad on government-funded trips but they said nothing could be done. As an active person I felt helpless. I cried for many nights. I was very healthy but due to my blindness couldn’t do any work to provide for my family, and that was depressing. I then decided that I would make the fish nets and sell them. I had to learn how to make the nets in a whole new way because of being blind. At first I made a lot of mistakes, and out of frustration I would tear them up, but after much trial and error I was able to start back stitching,” he recalled.
Rafi outlined that there is an art in stitching the nets, which he does manually. It is an age-old art that requires a lot of patience and technique, and Rafi has mastered it. In order to get the net to be perfect, Rafi has to ensure the “false eye” – a fancy loop which gives it the skirt shape to get a perfect throw – is stitched properly.
“It starts with 60 ‘eyes’ at the top and finishes with 700. My fingers would tell me if I’m going wrong or have made a mistake. Of course if this happens, my wife would help me, but doing this for years I have become excellent at it. [The] smaller the eye, [it] requires more time and twine, which makes it more expensive. This net is used to catch shrimps. I would spend over 12 hours a day making a net, which would take me about 2 weeks to complete one. I have a lot in stock right now if anyone is interested in purchasing,” he declared.
For more information on Bacchus’ offerings of unique arts and crafts, call 610-7175 or 222-8969.
and fait
