Telling untold stories through jewellery pieces

What you need to know:

Anything creative that Jacqueline Massawe produces seeks to free stories hidden inside

Throughout school my strengths and interests have been in Literature and the Arts. We moved around a lot growing up as my father was training to be a Radiologist. In terms of schooling, the system of education changed several times for me, from the Middle East, to Europe to the UK. I eventually sat my GCSEs and A Levels in England. I gained confidence in the Arts because I had inspirational teachers, who interested me and understood my strengths and pushed me, specifically in Literature and Art. My teachers were passionate about their subject areas, and took us on Art trips to London and Paris. Recreational time well spent for me, is when I can visit museums or galleries and understand the journey of a culture or artist, I cultivated this from my time at school, my teachers were a great influence. At school I learnt that the Arts were a noble and beautiful and exciting path to take although not without its challenges. My teachers also stretched me and taught me how to stretch myself creatively.

Still enthused by Literature and the Arts, I worked with several producers experimenting with poetry I was writing and combining it with music. Together with a French producer, Dominique Lepine, I wrote a poetry album titled Walk It Out, under the pen name Pretty Poet. At this point I was a mother of one, expecting my second child. I had performed locally (in London) and had been selected to perform at Sauti za Busara in Zanzibar. The challenges of being a mother and wife at this point in my creative journey created for me a glass ceiling that I did not feel ready to try and break. To perform I needed to physically be in different places. Living in the UK, having a house help was indeed a luxury. I couldn’t put a cap on my creativity and so I turned to my other passion, fashion and jewellery. I felt that I could still tell stories that I told through my poetry, using the medium of jewellery and adornment. I created my first collection which I entitled Uhuru Wings, Freedom to Fly and I presented the collection at London Fashion Week in an off-schedule show. That show will always be memorable for me, not only because it was my first, but also because my second born son was 6 weeks old and the only way I could do the show was if I did it with him. He came back stage, strapped in a carrier and I dressed and directed my models and presented my first collection. I left him backstage with the models only when I went out front to take my bow.

I later exhibited at other shows and went on to represent Tanzania at a London Fashion Week showcase organised by the British Council and the British Fashion Council called the International Fashion Showcase. I think it’s important to point out that yes, had I been able to make more personal appearances and travel further afield to shows, it would have impacted my career in design to a greater extent. However I managed to launch a collection, register a business and sell jewellery largely through online channels, got good press and made a profit without making too many personal appearances. That’s what I wanted when I shifted from Poet to Designer. That’s what worked for me and allowed me to also have a family with young children. There is always something you can do to progress your vision. We make choices based on our value system. I have always valued having a family and raising my children and so many of my life choices accommodate that.

Since relaunching the jewellery business in Tanzania, I have yet to produce my first new collection. I have been working with selected clients on their personal jewellery pieces. Storytelling is important to me and this is a way that I can help people tell their stories or mark their special moments through jewellery. I select few clients because I like to do things properly. The process I go through to arrive at a completed piece of jewellery involves, conversation and getting to know my client. Sourcing the right materials for them requires that I know what materials will tell their stories well. Managing that process to arrive at a high quality, unique, made in Tanzania piece of fine jewellery takes energy and more of my personal input that you would imagine. Remember my last experience at this type of business was in the UK with different laws, different standards, different tastes, different stories, what I’m doing now is all new. With each piece of jewellery I find myself on a treasure hunt to make sure we find the right stone, at the right price, cut well and designed in a way that it captures meaning, but is also wearable and timeless.

Telling untold stories through jewellery pieces

What you need to know:

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