So I'm a bit annoyed.  I know that this is a topic that most people originally from other third world countries would have an opinion on about a different object, but me being from Africa...this is mine.

The other day THIS popped up in my inbox.   I knew it was going to happen, I've seen these plastic girls pop up on various design and interior blogs and I've cringed every time.

The doll is made domestically in Africa. Girls play with these dolls they call by caring for them, dressing and feeding them, and sometimes tucking them into the waistbands of their skirts just as women carry infants in cloth wrappers wrapped around their waists. There are significant rituals associated with girls, including the belief that proper care for the doll can ensure fertility and survival of children.

These are sold for couple of Rands back home and the money (we hope) go to the kids in the townships.  Since I have lived in Australia I have visited Cape Town twice.  Each time I go back home I buy one of these in a different colour and hopefully plan oto go back and visit enough in my lifetime to collect all the colours.

 



 

God my dressing table needs a tidy.  Anyway. There is nothing one can do about them being bought in the masses with the first world economy dollar and then flogged at some wanky trade show to be sold on to housewives who read Home and Garden.  They're cute and they look great and of course they would be a hit, but I just wanted you all to know the back story before you just went in and consumed without thinking.