A traditional Ndebele-themed “Lego” set has enthusiasts of the plastic construction blocks excited, and its creators are on a mission to put African culture in the world’s toy box.
The concept, a collaboration between designer Thomas Torr and educator/author Palesa Tshabalala, was recently shared on Lego’s Ideas page, where it garnered more than 100 supporters in a matter of hours.
Its next milestone is 1,000 supporters and the hopes of being picked up by the giant toymaker.
The idea came after Torr and Tshabalala worked together on the children’s book The Big Fat Man in 2021, featuring Ndebele themes. After seeing the success of the book, the pair decided to try their hand at a different medium, creating a Ndebele village using Lego.
“I am an English teacher in Taiwan, and read children’s books to students. I realised there are no African characters. Some of the children had never even seen a black person,” said Tshabalala. “I thought a colourful African village that children could interact with would be an incredible tool to educate children about SA and the world.”
Torr said the striking African patterns on the Ndebele structures are a perfect application for Lego’s variety and colours.
The set includes a traditional Ndebele hut with a small paddock for cattle, an acacia tree, an Ndebele-patterned vehicle and four Ndebele figures. The walls consist of a small set of duplicate sections that create the pattern when put together. They are interchangeable and customisable. There is a small wood-burning stove and potjie to complete the set’s look and authenticity.
“We went through a few designs with the stove. It started out as a fireplace where people can sit around, but Palesa recognised it as an opportunity to include something many people will be able to connect with and rekindle the intimate and fond memories attached to it,” said Torr.
Tshabalala cites renowned Ndebele artist Esther Mahlangu as one of her inspirations, saying the painter is proud of her culture.
Mahlangu has previously told the Sunday Times the world is hungry for African designs. “I speak Ndebele, I walk Ndebele, and I wear Ndebele”.
Torr said the response to the project has been overwhelming, with people eager for Lego to produce the set. He called on South Africans to vote for the concept so it can reach 10,000 supporters and make it onto the Lego bosses’ radar.
You can pledged your support for the concept by signing up and following it HERE.
Tshabalala also is in the US trying to drum up support for the project.
“I am in New Jersey to create awareness for the project, and the people I have spoken to are quite impressed. There has been a lot of interest from the African-American community who want to connect with their African roots,” she said.
Torr said: “The lack of diversity that previously existed in Lego products presents an incredible opportunity for creatives around the world. There is a wealth of ideas to draw from in African architecture, fashion, iconography, mythology, storytelling and more.
“The future will be a mixture of all cultures from around the world, and the African way of life has already made a huge impact on Western media. We believe that utilising African design in Lego is only a logical next step.”
Tshabalala said she had met parents who were looking forward to using the set as an educational and bonding experience with their children.
“They want to use the time spent playing together as an opportunity to share stories of their own upbringing. Stories about cattle, farming and wood stoves.
“We want to create something that is familiar to African children. It is so important for our children to connect with something that looks like them and shows they belong and are seen”.
Former Miss SA and model Bokang Montjane-Tshabalala had the same ambition when she launched her SB Kids range of children’s merchandise and toys in 2017. The range was sold at retailers Jet, Pep and Edgars, and includes a dark-skinned doll.
Montjane-Tshabalala believes it is important that African children interact with toys and characters that look and sound like them.
“The market for African toys and merchandise is rife. Black people are really starting to wear their pride for their roots and who they are, from their skin to their hair,” she said.
“The best part of all this is that parents are teaching their children to accept who they are and enabling them to imagine themselves in the toys they play with.”
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