A handmade shoemaker from Maputo is an alternative to big feet.

Abilio Zumbana, a handicraft shoemaker since 1990, was the only alternative for a 16-year-old who needed the number 53 shoe when Maputo stores didn’t have the right shoes.

“The biggest shoe size we have is size 46, but we had to reinvent ourselves to make size 53. It took me a week to sew two pairs of children’s shoes,” says 64-year-old shoemaker Lusa. holds the crocodile skin fabric used to make shoes.

Abilio Zumbana learned the trade from his uncle at the age of 14 and then went on to work in two factories.

Twelve years later, with just “a small bench and three tools,” he decided to open an Afrybunhe shoe store in his backyard in the Chamanculo district on the outskirts of Maputo, where he now displays his collection.

The teenager’s parents came to Abiliu on the recommendation of the director of the shoe factory, after searching all the shops in the Mozambican capital, but not finding a suitable pair.

“When I saw the boy’s leg, I told myself that it would not be easy, but I accepted the challenge. Everything was handmade,” Abilio says, referring to the largest shoe size he has ever made at 33. years of work.

Right at the entrance to the craft factory, shoes hang in a small window, and fabrics from the skins of various animals, including crocodile, ostrich and cow skins, are waiting to be used.

Farther back, at the back of the workshop, sit three shoe-making men, one of whom is Abilio’s son, surrounded by various tools, piles of shapes and forms, sewing machines, and bottles of glue.

“Here everything is done by hand, and the machines I have are only for sanding and sewing,” Abilio explains, noting that the job requires “a lot of patience and care” as he makes the final touches on the women’s shoes. .

Prices at the Afrybunhe shoe store range from 5,800 metics (82 euros) to 18,000 metics (255 euros) depending on the type of shoe and, above all, the type of leather used in its manufacture – crocodile and ostrich are among the most expensive.

The material for production comes from South Africa and China, which entails high costs,” Abiliou explains, mourning the death of his Portuguese friend who bought material for him in Portugal.

In addition to number 53, the shoemaker has already made shoes for a person suffering from elephantiasis, a disease that can cause disproportionate growth of some limbs, and has also made shoes for people with disabilities.

“The organization contacted me to make shoes for children with clubfoot, which are then distributed to orthopedic centers in the country,” notes Sumbana.

On average, a shoe shop produces a pair of shoes in two days, so shoes are made only to order, with cowhide being the most sought after.

By holding brown shoes made from this material, Abilio guarantees the quality of what he produces, noting that his shoes can be used for over a year without damage, for those who know how to keep them.

By the way, two years later, the 16-year-old has not returned to Afribunh, which for the shoemaker means that the shoes are “still relevant”.

“I invest a lot in quality so that the client doesn’t complain after one or two months, because since this is local and handmade, this return will cost me a lot,” he emphasizes.

Although the main target audience is men, Afrybunhe shoe store is also an alternative for women who find it difficult to find shoes in stores.

“I make shoes mainly for ladies with big feet. When they show up here, I make them,” says Abilio, who dreams of teaching the profession to unemployed young people in his area.

“Art is a priceless treasure. You can take me with you anywhere, and wherever I wear shoes, I will definitely earn some income. I am not the kind of person you can refuse,” he assures.