Master carpenter follows in father’s footsteps
As a young boy, every day after school Gothusamang Chidu would rush home as fast as his little legs could carry him, scurrying back to catch his carpenter father in action.
“I would sit next to him, watching him working with wood. He would craft the most beautiful seats, patiently explaining to me what he was doing and why; to me, it seemed like magic,” remembers the 42-year-old fondly.
These precious ‘father-and-son’ moments left a deep impression on Chidu.
Inspired, by the time he started junior secondary school, Chidu already knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life: follow in his father’s footsteps and use his hands to carve out a living.
And that’s exactly what he set about doing!
“I studied Art as well as Design and Technology – they were my two favourite subjects because I had to use my hands,” he tells Voice Money.
This childhood passion grew even stronger once he’d finished school, finding work with a local company doing bricklaying and carpentry, carefully honing his skills.
When the enterprise closed, Chidu felt he had learned enough to go into business on his own.
“In 2016 I approached the North East District Department of Social Community Development office seeking assistance in sponsoring my carpentry business, Goshwa Wood Work. Although it took time, I patiently waited and they finally responded in 2019. They assessed my needs and arranged for me to take a three months course at Shashe Brigade,” explains Chidu, adding the term ‘Goshwa’ is a common name in his family, which is why he decided to use it.
“That December, they gave me some equipment and the final batch arrived in March; when lockdown began I started working on my projects.”
The tools included: a rotary machine, circular saw, generator, screwdriver and a drill square.
“I kept them updated on my progress by sending them proof of what I was doing so they see my commitment,” he said.
Progress has indeed been pleasing.
Working from his home in Nlakhwane village in the North East, the talented carpenter, who employs one assistant, specializes in chairs, just like his father all those years ago!
His dream is to eventually move his place of work to a business plot, but remaining in the village – even though materials are sometimes hard to come, with stock often running-out in nearby Masunga, forcing him to wait for replacements from Ghetto, Chidu has no plans to leave Nlakhwane.
“Business is doing well even though sometimes it becomes slow,” says Chidu, who recently exhibited his woodwork at the Business Botswana Northern Trade Fair in Francistown, where his intricate creations and sturdy stools caught the eye.
Aside from chairs, the master carpenter is adept at wooden drums and mortars.
Marketing his work on Facebook, the bulk of Chidu’s orders come from customers based outside Nlakhwane. Once finished, he sends the ordered product by bus or courier.
Costs range from anywhere between P300 to P1, 200, depending on the size and design.
