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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$64.00
This mbira (pronounced UM-beer-ra), consisting of a hand-carved wooden base with attached staggered recycled metal tines and with a resonator to add a little buzz, is played by holding the instrument in the hands and plucking the tines with the thumbs. A particularly common musical instrument of the Shona people of Zimbabwe, it is also often an important instrument to be played at religious ceremonies, weddings, and other social gatherings.
A beautiful gift for world music enthusiasts!
15 Note Mbira measures 5"L x 1"W x 8"T.
23 Note Mbira measures 8"L x 1"W x 9.5"T.
Due to the handmade nature of this item, slight variation is expected.
About the Artisans:
Artisans handcraft quality musical instruments that traditionally figure strongly in Shona ceremonies, using recycled wood and metal.
$34.00
Working in a coastal workshop outside Accra, Ghanaian artisans hand-carve these lovely little hand drums from wood and stretch a goatskin top. Each drum features geometric detailing, hand-carved into the wooden body of the drum, and a braided cord for carrying. Though small, the drums are fully functionalâ a great gift for small musicians.
Choose from 2 sizes. 5" Drum: approximately 8.5" tall with a 5" wide drumhead. 4" Drum: approximately 6" tall with a 4" wide drumhead. Due to the handcrafted nature of these drums, designs will vary and size may vary slightly. Sold individually.
About the Artisans:
Founded by Andy Koney nearly 20 years ago in his bedroom, today the Ghanian artistic collective known as Yenok employs 40 men and women who are dedicated to creating beautiful furniture and woodworking art, often with a spiritual flair. Yenok's products are recognized for their high quality and custom craftsmanship.
$24.00
Ghanaian artisans hand-carve these lovely little hand drums from wood, stretch a goatskin top, and hand-paint vibrant finishes onto their exterior. Each little drum is fully functional and makes a great gift for children. The drums are assorted in color and motif; see photos for examples.
Size: approximately 6" W x 9" T
Due to the handcrafted nature of these drums, designs and color will vary.
About the Artisans:
Founded by Andy Koney nearly 20 years ago in his bedroom, today the Ghanaian artistic collective known as Yenok employs 40 men and women who are dedicated to creating beautiful furniture and woodworking art, often with a spiritual flair. Yenok's products are recognized for their high quality and custom craftsmanship.
$145.00
These xylophones are carefully calibrated musical instruments that produce an amazingly resonant sound with warm, round tones. This beautiful instrument includes 8 notes, and a set of mallets.
Measures approximately 16”L x 14”W x 2.5”H. Due to the handcrafted nature of this item, slight variation is expected.
About the Artisans:
Vaima Arts Trust is an amazing organization that uses music and creative arts to empower, rehabilitate, and advocate for marginalized members of their communities. Officially started in 2017, they teach the people they work with how to play, and create Zimbabwean instruments. "Vaima," a Shona word meaning "shine bright," encapsulates their mission to spread joy and creativity using music.
$52.00
Handmade in Senegal, these traditional drums are carved from a single piece of hollowed wood. Goatskin is stretched taut across the top and held in place by braided nylon and cotton cord. Each drum includes a handle of braided cord.
Each rustic drum is decorated with colorful ribbon and most have painted designs, which will vary. See photos for examples.
Size: 7"D x 11"T.
Sold individually.
About the Artisans:
We purchase these instruments from a small co-op of Senegalese artisans in Guediawaye Artisan Village, located in Dakar.
$18.00
A functional and miniature piece of art, these tiny African drums are carved from a single piece of hollowed wood. Goatskin is stretched taut across the top and held in place by pieces of braided nylon and cotton cord. Each djembe is decorated with colorful ribbon and black painted designs, and each is different! Painted motifs vary and can include abstract shapes, dots, checkerboard, and stars.
Makes a great gift for kids! Fair trade from Senegal.
Dimensions: 3.5"L x 3.5"W x 4"H
Crafted from: Wood, goatskin, nylon, cotton
Made in: Senegal
Due to the handcrafted nature of this time, variation is expected.
About the Artisans:
We purchase these instruments from a small co-op of Senegalese artisans in Guediawaye Artisan Village, located in Dakar.
$38.00
These drum-inspired earrings are handmade in Senegal using sterling silver. Each earring is hung on French earwire and includes delicate twirled rope detailing.
A wonderful gifts for musicians! Thanks to the petite size of these djembe earrings, the effect is playful but still subtle.
Measures approximately 1" from top of earwire to base of earring. Due to the handmade nature of this item, some variation is expected.
$36.00
Handmade in Senegal, these traditional drums are carved from a single piece of hollowed wood. Goatskin is stretched taut across the top and held in place by braided nylon and cotton cord. Each drum includes a handle of braided cord.
Each rustic drum is decorated with colorful ribbon and most have painted designs, which will vary. See photos for examples.
Size: 5"D x 7.5"T.
Sold individually.
About the Artisans:
We purchase these instruments from a small co-op of Senegalese artisans in Guediawaye Artisan Village, located in Dakar.
$15.00
Kenyan artisans handcraft this fun spin drum from leather and wood, then add different hand painted designs to each side to represent day and night. Spinning the drum creates an interesting visual.
Sold singly. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.
Dimensions: 12"L x 3.5"W x 1"H
Crafted from: Leather, wood, string, acrylic paint
Made in: Kenya
About the Artisans:
We work with Kenyan artisans who have life-long training in the making of traditional African instruments such as hand drums and spin drums. The artisans craft each instrument from sustainably sourced wood and scraps of goat skin. After each instrument is constructed, Nairobi artists hand-paint the instruments, making each one-of-a-kind.
$15.00
Kenyan artisans handcraft this fun spin drum from leather and wood, then hand paint colorful butterflies on each side. A sweet gift for little musicians!
Sold singly. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.
Dimensions: 11"L x 3.5"W x 0.75"H
Crafted from: Leather, wood, string, acrylic paint
Made in: Kenya
About the Artisans:
We work with Kenyan artisans who have life-long training in the making of traditional African instruments such as hand drums and spin drums. The artisans craft each instrument from sustainably sourced wood and scraps of goat skin. After each instrument is constructed, Nairobi artists hand-paint the instruments, making each one-of-a-kind.