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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$78.00
These simple yet durable baskets are hand woven by women in rural Tanzania. Available in three sizes, they are useful in every room of the home. Accents of dyed black milulu grass elevate these traditional baskets as modern decor.
Sold singly, three sizes available. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary.
Dimensions:
Small: 10"D x 10"H
Medium: 11-12"D x 12"H
Large: 13"D x 13"H
Crafted from: Milulu grass, natural dye
Made in: Tanzania
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.
$42.00
Trained by generations of local cultural tradition, skilled basket-weavers in Rwanda in East Africa craft stylish, high-quality sisal baskets inspired by nature. Tightly woven, these all natural baskets can be used for storing fruit and vegetables, serving bread, organizing toys or just hanging on your wall to add for unique home decoration.
Sold singly. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.
Dimensions:
Small: 10"L x 10"W x 2.5"H
Large: 12"L x 12"W x 3"H
Crafted from: Banana fiber, sisal
Made in: Rwanda
About the Artisans:
It is typical for many women in developing countries to depend solely on their husbands for financial needs, but Songa Designs International is changing this dynamic. By working for Songa, under-resourced women are encouraged to pursue economic independence, simply by using skills acquired through everyday life. Songa Designs provides jobs for over 150 women who in turn negotiate their own salaries and earn fair wages, which enables them to buy land, health insurance or send their children to school for the first time. 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.
$185.00
These hampers, handwoven by an association of more than 100 rural Wolof women in the West African nation of Senegal, bring beautiful modern artisan craftsmanship to homes around the world. These useful baskets are woven in the coil style by binding dried cattail stalks with plastic strips salvaged from a Dakar mat factory. Featuring aqua, orange, yellow and white triangles, the combination of natural and synthetic materials beautifully displays modern African artistry.
Sold singly. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.
Dimensions: 19"L x 19"W x 30"H
Crafted from: Typha (cattail) stalks, plastic
Made in: Senegal
Due to the handmade nature of this item, some variation is expected. Read our Statement on Handmade Variation to learn more. Fair trade.
$48.00
Using locally harvested cattail stalks and strips of plastic used to make prayer mats, a network of rural Wolof women in nine Senegalese villages work together to create beautiful handcrafted baskets such as this lidded basket.
Measures 12"D x 14"T. Due to the handcrafted nature of this item, each may vary slightly.
$115.00
Handwoven in the West African nation of Senegal, these outstanding baskets bring incredible artisan craftsmanship and great storage into our living spaces.
Originally created with an association of more than 100 rural Wolof women and the Peace Corps in an effort to improve quality of life in Senegal, the baskets are tightly woven and will last for years to come with little to no maintenance.
Measures approximately 22"T x 17"D. Due to the handcrafted nature of this item, design placement and shape will vary slightly. See our Statement on Handmade Variation to learn more.
$185.00
This large hamper basket features a cream criss-cross and triangle design set against a black background; each hamper is unique due to variation in the design placement. Images show examples of variation.
African laundry hampers, handwoven by an association of more than 100 rural Wolof women in the West African nation of Senegal, bring beautiful modern artisan craftsmanship to homes around the world. These useful storage baskets are woven in the coil style by binding dried cattail stalks with plastic strips upcycled from a Dakar mat factory. Handles are made from braided plastic.
Approximate Dimensions: 18"L x 18"W x 30"H
Crafted from: Typha (cattail) stalks, plastic
Made in: Senegal
Due to the handmade nature of this item, variation is expected. See photos for examples of how this design may vary between baskets, and read our Statement on Handmade Variation to learn more. Fair trade.
$125.00
Woven by Wolof craftswomen, these African hampers have a modern look with black, white, and silver plastic strips recycled from prayer mat factories. Designed with durability in mind, each basket features a flat lid and cutout handles.
Measures 14"D x 19"T.
Due to the handmade nature of this item, some variation is expected. Read our Statement on Handmade Variation to learn more. Fair trade.
$54.00
Using strands of natural and hand-dyed sisal extracted from agave plants, women living in remote areas of rural Kenya earn income by crafting beautiful baskets for chic storage with a textural look. Woven to last, sisal baskets can be reshaped using cold water.
Size: 10"D x 13"T. Due to the handcrafted nature of the item, it may vary slightly.
About the Artisans:
In the rural Kenyan countryside around the city of Kitui, women specialize in weaving the tough fibers of the agave sisalana plant. Sisal's spiky leaf clusters erupt from a dry landscape and often requires long journeys to gather. Once woven, these womens' totes are sold to local and international markets. Singing, dancing, and chatting make weaving for export an enjoyable social event!
$125.00
Bringing style to storage, this multi-toned handmade basket is woven in rural Senegal using natural grasses and thin strips of recycled plastic. This adaptable basket features cut-out handles, a flat lid, and a unique half & half pattern. When placed against a wall, the basket can show only one of the two colors, or both!
Measures approximately 14"D x 19"T
Due to the handmade nature of this item, some variation is expected. Read our Statement on Handmade Variation to learn more. Fair trade.
$48.00
This basket is woven in Senegal using natural grasses and thin strips of plastic. The basket's domed lid allows for an impressive amount of storage. Colorful and useful, this basket will brighten any space.
Sold singly. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.
Dimensions: 12"L x 12"W x 14"H
Crafted from: Cattail stalks, plastic strips
Made in: Senegal
$42.00
Perfect for small storage, these modern African baskets are woven using sweet-smelling natural grasses and thin, black strips of upcycled plastic.
Each basket includes a fitted lid with braided pull handle. The sale of these baskets helps support a network of over 100 rural Senegalese craftswomen and their families.
Dimensions: 8.5"L x 8.5"W x 8.5"H
Crafted from: Typha (cattails), plastic strips
Made in: Senegal