A TRADITION OF BASKET WEAVING IN GHANA
Starting from a small woven circle, Ghanaian basket weavers work their way out from a central point to reveal beautiful, distinctive Bolga baskets. Sometimes called “market baskets,” Bolga baskets are woven from veta vera, or elephant grass. While the grass is grown primarily in southern Ghana, weavers in the northern region of Bolgatanga excel at transforming the tough grass fiber into the iconic baskets. The people from the region rely on the sale of handcrafted items to supplement their income, and their craftsmanship is demonstrated by the high quality of these artfully woven baskets.
The weaving of Bolga baskets in Ghana has been a traditional skill for many generations, and is often a communal process. The Bolga baskets sold by Swahili Modern are fair trade and a reliable source of income for weavers and their families. Just as the baskets begin as a small circle and expand, so does the impact of purchasing fair trade items that directly benefit, support and empower the artisans who create them.
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Even though they are all-natural, the baskets are very durable and can be rinsed with water as needed.
Size: (approximately) Sm: 10-11"D x 11"T; Med: 12-13"D x 12"T; Lrg: 14-15"D x 13" T. Because this product is handmade, designs will vary slightly.
About the Artisans:
Home of the Hehe people, the city of Iringa is situated 300 miles from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and stretches along a hilltop overlooking the Ruaha River to the south. Iringa is famous for its woven baskets made from local reeds. The baskets are an important source of income for the 100,000 population town and are used across Tanzania and exported worldwide.
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The Mountains of the Moon in Uganda contain the most varied and vibrant mountain scenery: from tropical rainforest, through alpine valleys, to snow-capped peaks and glaciers. These lovely baskets feature patterns echoing the shape of mountains, created by Ugandan artisans using vibrantly dyed raffia coiled over banana stalks. This sustainable, colorful art will elevate your wall display—simply hang using its raffia loop. Or, find a myriad of uses for these functional baskets, from the tabletop to the garden.
Size: [Small] 10"D x 2.5"T; [Medium] 12"D x 3"T; [Large] 14"D x 3.5"T. Because these are handcrafted items, colors and patterns may vary slightly.
About the Artisans:
Uganda Crafts 2000 Limited, a member of the International Fair Trade Association teaches basic handcrafting skills to rural & urban women and provides income opportunities for the marginalised and disadvantaged: people with disabilities, widows, orphans, single mothers, women with minimal education, and people living with HIV. They handcraft baskets using natural raffia, some with natural dyes, wrapped over coils of banana leaf stems.
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These rare baskets, with their brightly colored blue beads, are woven by Samburu and Rendille women in remote northern Kenya. Called "nomadic baskets," the baskets are styled for the modern home but based on traditional designs used for the storage of camel's milk.
Nomadic baskets are sold in three useful nesting sizes and are adorned with blue beads. Because these baskets are handcrafted, each will vary slightly.
Each basket is tightly knit and is designed to last a lifetime. [L] 7.5"D x 5"T [M] 5.5"D x 4"T [S] 4.5"D x 4"T.
About the Artisans:
For the pastoral communities of northern Kenya, life pivots on the coming of rain and the survival of livestock. When the skies open, the landscape becomes lush and fragrant. Cattle and goats drink and forage near home and families stay together. In times of drought, warriors must travel far to find water for their herds, leaving women and children at home alone to endure dry seasons of unknown length as the streams, earth and trees dry around them.
Where they were once only allowed to own milk, Samburu women now own camels, plus they earn income by making baskets, processing meat and hides, keeping bees and refining honey. Through this shift in property control and a general increase in literacy in the region, Samburu women have become valued contributing community members.
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Store your laundry or your children's toys in this stylish hamper, or simply use to enhance your home decoration!
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Measures 19"D x 30"T. Sizes may very up to an 1" plus or minus, due to the handmade nature of these baskets.
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In the Pemba and Monze districts of Zambia's Southern Plateau, skilled Batonga women craft iconic baskets from locally harvested palm leaves and wild twigs. To update their classic designs with beautiful color, weavers tint the palm leaves with textile dye before weaving. These artfully handcrafted baskets make a great addition to any home decor.
Measures 15-16"D x 3-4"T. Due to the handmade nature of this item, size and color may vary slightly.
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Famous for their basket weaving skills as well as their geometric designs, the Batonga women in the Pemba and Monze districts of Zambia's Southern Plateau create these baskets by first weaving palm leaves into a characteristic square to begin and then radiating outward to create dramatic patterns.
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In the Pemba and Monze districts of Zambia's Southern Plateau, skilled Batonga women craft iconic baskets from locally harvested palm leaves and wild twigs. To update their classic designs with beautiful color, weavers tint the palm leaves with textile dye before weaving. These artfully handcrafted baskets make a great addition to any home decor.
Sold as a set of two nesting baskets. [Large] 14-15"D x 6-7"T [Small] 10-11"D x 5-6"T. Due to the handmade nature of this item, size and color may vary slightly.
About the Artisans:
Famous for their basket weaving skills as well as their geometric designs, the Batonga women in the Pemba and Monze districts of Zambia's Southern Plateau create these baskets by first weaving palm leaves into a characteristic square to begin and then radiating outward to create dramatic patterns.
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These beautiful, nature-inspired baskets are handcrafted by Ugandan artisans. Artisans build the baskets by hand-coiling vibrantly dyed raffia over banana stalks. This functional and sustainable art can be displayed on the wall with its raffia loop, or put to use on the tabletop or in the garden.
Size: 12"D x 3"T. Because these are handcrafted items, colors and patterns may vary slightly.
About the Artisans:
Uganda Crafts 2000 Limited, a member of the International Fair Trade Association teaches basic handcrafting skills to rural & urban women and provides income opportunities for the marginalised and disadvantaged: people with disabilities, widows, orphans, single mothers, women with minimal education, and people living with HIV. They handcraft baskets using natural raffia wrapped over coils of banana leaf stems.
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Size: 28"L x 18"W x 12"T (to top of basket), 18"T (to top of handles), though it may vary slightly due to the handcrafted nature of this basket. Handles are reinforced with natural and turquoise leather.
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Mattress not included.
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These decorative baskets, handwoven in Africa, feature a unique triangle quadrant design in cream and deep blue, and are woven using natural grasses and salvaged plastic strips.
Measures 14"D. Due to the handcrafted nature of this basket, size may vary slightly.
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Cattails grow abundantly in rural Senegal, making this natural grass a sustainable choice. The Wolof women earn a sustainable income from basket weaving, while enriching homes around the world with modern African craftsmanship.
This hamper basket features inset handles and a flat lid.
Measures approximately 19" tall by 14" wide.
Due to the handmade nature of this item, some variation is expected. Read our Statement on Handmade Variation to learn more. Fair trade.
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Talented women in rural Rwanda use abundant, natural banana and sisal fibers to weave useful baskets for the home. This basket features pops of blue against white and tan. The petite size has many uses—use your basket to hold jewelry, bedside essentials like lip balm, or keys.
Sold individually. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.
Size: 7-8"D x 2"T
About the Artisans:
Trained by generations of local cultural tradition, the skilled artisans in Rwanda in East Africa craft stylish, high-quality accessories inspired by nature. Each handmade item is tightly woven with all-natural materials such as banana leaf fiber or sisal plants.
