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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These African wine stoppers add safari style to your wine routine. The animals are cast from zinc and electroplated with an antique brass finish. Each sits atop a standard sized cork and measures 1.75"T x 1.25"L. Due to the handcrafted nature of this item, slight variation may occur.
The stoppers come to us from an eco-friendly, brass casting company in Cape Town known its community outreach and original products.
About the Artisans:
Roots of Creation is a South African company known for their innovate brass and metal products. They have been in the casting business for over 20 years, during which time they have built a reputation for high-quality and original product design.
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These sweet wooden ornaments are hand-carved and stained using jacaranda wood in Western Kenya.
The giraffe and zebra ornaments are hand-painted with fur patterns while the elephants are stained to a rich coffee brown. Each ornament is unique, and due to the handmade nature of this item, slight variation is expected.
Size: 2"-3" tall (not including hanging ribbon)
About the Artisans:
We work with an amazing co-op in Kenya, the Gikomba Wood Carving Cooperative, a group of woodcarvers of all ages who work in an open-air workshop in Nairobi. This environmentally-responsible group takes care to legally procure all types of African wood used in their products, and they are skilled at using all parts of the tree in their artwork.
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These modern hamper baskets are woven by rural craftswomen in Senegal using coils of natural grasses, held together by interwoven strips of plastic in a white and silver herringbone pattern.
Each large basket features a fitted lid, top knob, and braided handles. Often used as laundry hampers, the baskets are tightly woven and sturdy. The cattail grass stalks are sustainably grown, and the plastic strips are upcycled from a local prayer mat factory.
Large measures approximately 26-28"H x 16"W. As with any handmade item, some variation is expected. Read our Statement on Handmade Variation to learn more. Fair trade.
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This fun elephant sculpture is made from hundreds of flip flops that have been hand-formed, carved, and cemented together by artisans in a Nairobi workshop.
These elephant sculptures are a colorful, eco-friendly way to recycle flip flops that would otherwise litter urban areas or sit in landfills. We work directly with a small co-op of Kenyan artisans who collect, clean and transform foam footwear into bold modern safari art sculptures.
Each sculpture is one-of-a-kind and designs will vary. Measures 11"L x 4"W x 6"T. Size may vary slightly.
About the Artisans:
In Kenya, artisans convert discarded flip flops into one-of-a-kind art. Operating from a small Nairobi workshop, the dedicated group offers employment and creative opportunities while also keeping flip flop foam out of the landfills.
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Designed to showcase flowers as if they were an ostrich's plumes, these handmade African sculptures are are welded outside of Nairobi using recycled oil drums and scrap metal. Each ostrich is crafted from the ground up and exhibits its own unique characteristics.
The sculptures can be displayed inside or outside of the home and are one-of-a-kind. Because they are made of metal, the ostrich planters will develop a patina when exposed to the elements.
Large measures 6 feet tall, with a planter basket that measures 21"D x 8.5"T. Smaller size measures 5 feet tall, with a planter basket that measures 15"D x 6"T. Sizes may vary slightly due to the handcrafted nature of this item.
Extra shipping fees are required for this oversized item. Please scroll down for more information.
About Shipping:
Shipping for these sculptures requires a pallet and cost starts at $200. After purchase, we will contact you via email regarding the additional shipping charges.
Shipping from our location in Oregon to the Northeast is most expensive, while shipping to California is least expensive. Shipping includes the cost for using a lift gate. Costs can sometimes be reduced if you can provide a business address.
Multiple sculptures can be shipped on a single pallet, typically costing the same as shipping for a single sculpture on a pallet.
We can provide a shipping quote at any time during the ordering process. Please email us at info@swahilimodern.com with your full shipping address to get started.
Once you have placed your order and agreed to the shipping cost, we will send you a Paypal invoice. The total will subtract any shipping you have already paid during the checkout process.
About the Artisans:
Moses and his small workshop of craftsmen build their own welding machines out of copper coil, tape, steel rod, and a sheet metal housing in order to create these spectacular metal works of art. Moses began his artistic career making furniture, but quickly switched to sculpture after an interested European buyer created a demand for his works abroad.
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Colorful, sweet Baby Elephant sculptures are made from discarded flip flops that have been hand-formed, carved, and cemented together by a small team of artisans in Nairobi.
These statement sculptures are a colorful and eco-friendly way to recycle flip flops that would otherwise litter urban Nairobi or sit in landfills. We work directly with a small co-op of Kenyan artisans who collect, clean and transform foam footwear into bold modern safari art sculptures.
Each sculpture is one-of-a-kind and designs will vary. Measures 5"L x 2.5"W x 3.5"T. Size may vary slightly.
About the Artisans:
In Kenya, artisans convert discarded flip flops into one-of-a-kind art. Operating from a small Nairobi workshop, the dedicated group offers employment and creative opportunities while also keeping flip flop foam out of the landfills.
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Measuring 70" long, these handmade table runners are created by weaving dried twigs through through hand-dyed mudcloth fabric.
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About the Artisans:
Mali Chic is a collaboration of 195 artisans that sells its products through a boutique in Bamako and through international exports. Artisans work from home, in their own workshops or on-site at Mali Chic.
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Lulu Life is an organic, Grade A virgin shea butter that is produced using nuts from the vitellaria nilotica tree, which grows only in remote East Africa.
Most shea butter comes from West African shea trees and is sold as a hard solid. East African shea butter is silky and harder to procure, and considered a precious luxury good. Lulu Shea Butter is made from nuts that are collected, cracked, sorted, dried, ground by hand and cold-pressed (avoiding even the slightest trace of chemical contamination).
Intensely moisturizing, this shea butter is easily absorbed and is known to transform your skin over time. The butter is rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants, and can be used on the face or as an all-over body butter.
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About the Artisans:
Founded in 2000, Lulu Works is a non-profit trust established to provide a source of sustainable income for the women of South Sudan. Comprised of women-owned processing centers, Lulu Works ensures that the profit from the production and sale of Lulu Life products returns to these women. It also provides an incentive to protect the natural shea butter resource.
Vitellaria nilotica tree grows across South Sudan in thick forests and takes 20 years to bear its first fruit. These forests are untouched by chemicals or fertilizers.
This shea butter is pure and unscented. See all of the scents available in our Skin Care Collection.
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Six beautiful strands of 26" Zulugrass to wear all together or in any grouping of 1 or more to make a wide variety of color combinations. Strung on elastic, it can be worn as a bracelet, necklace, anklet, hair tie and more. To wear as a bracelet, just wrap each strand around your wrist 3-4 times.
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Add a touch of Africa to your holiday season with these fun holiday ornaments! Donning a bright little Santa hat, these safari animals are hand carved from jacaranda wood and make adorable additions to the holiday tree. Each ornament set is handmade to be beautifully one-of-a-kind.
Handmade in Kenya.
Sold in sets of 2. Choose from Elephant & Giraffe, Lion & Cheetah, Hippo & Rhino or Giraffe & Zebra.
Size: Around 2.5"L. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary.
About the Artisans:
We work with an amazing co-op in Kenya, the Gikomba Wood Carving Cooperative, a group of woodcarvers of all ages who work in an open-air workshop in Nairobi. This environmentally-responsible group takes care to legally procure all types of African wood used in their products, and they are skilled at using all parts of the tree in their artwork.
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About the Artisans:
We work with representatives of Kamba artists in Kenya to obtain these hand-carved works of beauty derived from the olive wood tree. The artisans benefit greatly from the sale of their works, with marked improvements being seen for the individual, their families, the community.