Designed Fela’s coffin
By Sunday Ani

When the word ‘cane’ is mentioned, the picture it conjures in one’s mind is that instrument parents use to discipline their children, particularly in Nigeria. Teachers in primary and secondary schools also use cane as a corrective measure on pupils and students just as Muslims use cane to flog errant faithful.

In fact, the mention of cane leaves the impression of punishment in the minds of people. That is the much most people know of the usefulness of cane. But unknown to many, cane serves not only as an instrument of correction but also as an instrument of economic empowerment.

The use of cane in making seat, table, basket, cot, handbag, hand fan etc, has been with us in Nigeria for sometime now. The use of its finished products was seen as crude some years back. But with the exorbitant cost of leather furniture and the quest to explore nature, cane furniture became prominent as they suddenly became the darling of even the wealthy people in society.
Sunday Sun’s visit to the cane village in Maryland, Lagos, revealed that cane is used to make various designs of chair, table, basket, fan, etc.

According to the chairman, Cane Weavers’ Association of Nigeria, Mr Ken Izeze, cane is weaved into designs such as Coconut chairs, Box chairs, Spiro chairs as well as sets of dining furniture of different shapes and sizes depending on individual choices.
“We have different designs of chairs such as Box, Coconut, Spiro, which name is derived from the originator of the design and dining sets of different shapes and sizes, depending on what the customer wants,” he said.

The Delta State-born cane seat-weaving wizard, who learnt the craft from his parents, said the price of the seats depends on the type, which is also dependent on the amount of labour and material input.
“A set of Coconut chairs comprising a three-seater, two-seater, two single-seater and a centre table costs about N70,000 while that of Box or Spiro could cost as low as N40,000. The Coconut chair is expensive because it takes more time and materials. To weave a set of Coconut chair, you will have to spend between three and four weeks,” he revealed.
Contrary to popular belief, cane seat could be very durable depending on individual usage. It can last for as long as six years without any dent if well handled.

Izeze said they travel as far as the Niger Delta to get their supplies, although he added that their supplies also come from the Epe axis in Lagos.
“We get our raw materials from the Niger Delta region, specifically from Delta and Bayelsa states. We also get our supplies from the Epe axis of Lagos State but in very small quantity.”
Not all types of cane species can be used to design these special home furniture. Izeze explained that only two species are used in the business – water and willow canes. The water cane is used in constructing or structuring the seats while the willow cane is used in designing.
A bundle of water cane currently goes for N600 while willow is N800.

As to how many bundles of cane is required to weave a set of any type of seat, the cane wizard added: “A set of Spiro chairs will consume four bundles of willow cane. For the Coconut chair, we use about 15 bundles of both the water and willow canes. Willow is used in structuring while the main weaving job is done with water cane.”

This is besides other materials like fabrics, foam, wood and varnish for finishing.
“We also use gas flame on the willow cane to make it malleable and ductile. When you have heated it with gas flame, you can turn it into such shapes as round, oval or rectangular without cutting it in sizes or without breaking it,” he said.
Canes are also used to weave shopping basket or what is popularly called hamper. The baskets come in different sizes, shapes and designs, and used for shopping, packaging gift items and for wedding and engagement paraphernalia. The demand for these baskets is generally high but they become higher during Christmas period when people exchange gifts.

The price for the baskets, depending on the design and size, according Izeze, ranges from as low as N400 to N3,500.
Cane seats also enjoy wide acceptance because of the skill involved. Izeze said it is accepted worldwide because it has to do with arts and craft.

“When you go beyond the borders of this country, you will see cane seats because they embrace it out there.
“I can say the business is lucrative because with this job, some people have been able to leave the unemployment market. We are able to put food on our tables. Apart from hampers that sell during Christmas, we cannot predict sales in the business. You can do a set of chair and display for up to three months before customers come for it but sometimes you might be lucky to sell it off as soon as you finish making it. However, there are other things you can do in-between to make ends meet, but at least every month, you can make about N20,000 or N25,000,” he assured.

Though weavers are naturally gifted, one can still learn the craft. To learn the art of weaving, one needs to have passion for it. According to Izeze, “all you need to do to learn this business is to come to us and we introduce you to the union and then attach you to where you will learn it. You will also have to provide the raw materials with which to learn. That is after paying a token, but that will depend on the type you want to learn.”

Sunday Sun observed that there is high level of specialization by the weavers. Some do the weaving while others design. Yet others weave baskets and baby cots as some weave chairs of different types.
“Some of us specialize in just the design while others specialize in only the structure. We normally have learners when students come for supervised industrial work experience (industrial attachment). Sculptor students are the ones that usually come as they combine sculptural work with cane weaving.

“Some other students come on excursion. For instance, the coffin used in burying Fela Anikulapo-Kuti had some cane work designed on it here. We don’t pay the IT students and we don’t collect money from them. We only ask them to buy materials they would work with and we teach them our work.”