Zakumi, the official 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup mascot, will have to shape up in the quest to bring soccer fever to the nation as he now has some competition in the form of a doll produced in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Penny Carrington with Bongani, the Rainbow Nation Doll.Image courtesy of The Herald
Bongani the Rainbow Nation Doll will make an appearance on M-Net's news and actuality programme Carte Blanche within the next few weeks.
Bay resident Penny Carrington, Bongani's creator, said what made the 21cm doll stand out from the official World Cup mascot was that it was produced in South Africa, whereas Zakumi was manufactured in China in a sweatshop environment.
"With Bongani, we have proved to the world we have the skills, talent and certainly the workforce to manufacture quality, value-for- money toys and we can be regarded as a force to be reckoned with by our Chinese counterparts," said Carrington, who was "horrified" when she heard Zakumi was made in China.
She said although the dolls - launched last November - would for now be clad in soccer clothes and carry a vuvuzela, they were not merely created for World Cup purposes.
"I am so proud of our wonderful nation. I believe we (South Africa) should have a doll to symbolise who we are," she said.
Multi-cultural
Carrington also had plans to create various Bongani dolls in the future to represent the different cultures in the country.
"Maybe we can have one of Cape Malay descent and maybe an Afrikaner with a safari outfit and a comb in his sock. We can even have a surfer carrying a surfboard."
She believed Bongani could also be tailored towards other sporting codes, like rugby and cricket, so the nation could be united in support of those games.
Made in the Bay
The entire manufacturing process took place in the Bay. Even the Algoa Bay Council for the Aged became involved as they assembled the dolls, dressed and packaged them.
"They really enjoyed doing this. A spokesman for the Council said it gave them something to get up for in the mornings," Carrington said.
Carrington, a strategist who also runs Sterling Communication in the Bay, said the idea for the doll was sparked by what she had seen on her travels.
"Every country I visited had a doll symbolising that specific country. I realised South Africa did not have something like this."
A portion of the profits made through the sale of the dolls - which are now available at CNA flagship stores and a number of Spar supermarkets around the Eastern and Southern Cape - will be donated to the Sinethemba Care Centre for Street Children, a home founded by ex-street child Signoria Qolani.
Source: The Herald
