Our Weavers
We believe in supporting and respecting the artists we buy from, doing business at local and fair market prices.
We get to know each artist and supplier personally, establishing rapport and learning about the pieces they create before purchasing.
Agana Clement
“I learnt basket weaving from my father and uncles.
The hardest to weave is the dog basket, because of how it is designed: When you are done weaving the base, you will have to squat to be able to weave it, you can’t hold it like the other baskets.
The easiest is the hamper, which is the basket I always like weaving.
Basket weaving is one of my handicraft jobs.
I am also a DSTV installation operator. I fix dishes and set up DSTV for individuals in their homes.”
Elizabeth Akrogo Ayeti
“I was taught how to weave hats by my father. He only knew how to weave hats.
I saw others weaving something different from the hats, so I followed them to learn how to weave round baskets and shopper baskets.
The shopper baskets are harder to weave because of their U shape and height, the round baskets are easier easiest due to their round nature.
Weaving has changed my life a lot and is now my source of income.“
Anampoka Aselissia
“My elder siblings taught me how to weave. They used to weave hats when I was little, before they went to learn how to weave baskets. I can weave the round, shopper, planter, and pot baskets.
I am a farmer, weaving isn’t my only source of income. Ever since I started weaving, I no longer ask for financial help from anyone – I can take care of my needs.
Basket weaving is very good, I wouldn’t know what I will be engaged in if I hadn’t learned it.”
Abampaka
“Basket weaving was not my thing until I got married and got to my husband’s house, and saw my mother-in-law and her daughters engaged in basket weaving. I was excited when my mother-in-law asked me to join them. I learnt quickly and ever since I have not stopped weaving.
I weave the Kiss kass shaker all the time, because before I weave I already have buyers, unlike the other baskets which I have to take to the market each market day to find a buyer.
Basket weaving has helped my family a lot. My husband and I are both weavers, weaving is our only source of income”
Arungu Adompoka
“I had two friends who knew how to weave. One taught me how to weave the round basket, and the other taught me the shopper basket.
I learned basket weaving because I needed a handicraft job to earn a living. I am a weaver and a farmer, I go back to farming in the wet season, after that I continue to weave till the wet season comes again the following year.
It was difficult for me to get money to take care of my children and their education, ever since I started weaving I no more find it difficult to provide for their educational materials.”
Nuhu Alidu
“Basket weaving is not part of my family’s tradition. None of my parents knew how to weave. I was taught by my elder brother, who learnt basket weaving outside our community.
I learnt so fast and I can now weave the oval basket, baby basket, laundry with lid, hamper, and the dog basket.
Ever since I finished senior high school I have been weaving, since I have no job at hand to earn money. I am able to take care of myself with the money I earn through weaving, and also bought a motorbike.”
WOVEN WITH LOVE IN AFRICA
Our relationships with these artists and suppliers are strengthened by our annual visits.
We believe this mutual loyalty and respect fosters good karma and results in these wonderful products being created with greater pride, respect and care.
Akentori Asenari
“I was taught basket weaving by a man who was willing to teach everyone who wants to learn how to weave baskets in the community. I went to his house each and every day to learn. I first learned how to weave hats. I stopped weaving the hat when I learnt how to weave the market basket, the round basket and the fan.
I was motivated to weave more because had no other work I could earn money for a living. Basket weaving is my only source of income. I have been able to educate my kids with the money I earn weaving.”
Insobila Rebecca
“Basket weaving is part of my family’s tradition. Both of my parents were weavers. They started teaching me when I was little.
I can weave the round basket, oval, baby basket and hamper. the hardest to weave is the baby basket and the easiest is the hamper. Some hampers are very tedious because they come with specific designs and colours.
Weaving is not my only source of income, I sell detergents for washing and scrubbing.”
Ayindo Abewba
“My father taught me how to weave, he was the only parent I had when I was little. My dad was a weaver, he had no other source of income.
He taught me how to weave the table mat followed by the oval basket, baby change, baby basket, laundry with lid and the three-set laundry basket. I learnt how to weave the round basket, the planter and the market basket by watching.
Basket weaving has changed my life. Whenever I get paid for weaving I remember my dad and thank him for teaching me how to weave, may his soul rest in perfect peace.”
Ayipoya Aberina
“My mom use to weave hats when I was a child, weaving was her only source of income. She taught me how to weave. I started with the small round and when my mom saw me doing well she thought me how to weave the big round.
I can weave the hat, planter, small round, large round and the market basket. I was inspired by my mom, she was able to provide for her needs and mine with the money she earned through weaving. Round basket is the easiest and market basket is the hardest because it U- shaped. Weaving isn’t my only source of income I am a farmer. I enjoy weaving the other baskets because order baskets come with an advance payment which I use to purchase the straw in order to weave quickly.”
NsoN Adubire Pius
“My mom taught me how to weave. I started weaving at age ten when I dropped out of school. My mom could not afford my school fees and other educational materials because she was the only parent I had.
I learned to weave a single fruit bowl first and I was then taught how to weave the oval, Moses basket, dog bed.
Weaving is my only source of income. I was inspired to weave more by my mom, she always use to tell me weaving will be your handicraft work one day when you are not employed, I use to doubt her until now. I am always happy when weaving the dog basket because my favourite animal is a dog.”
ASUNAMA ATAMMIRA
“Basket weaving is not part of my family’s tradition. I learned how to weave hats before I learnt the ushopper, pot and planter. The hardest to weave is the hat whiles the easiest to weave is the pot.
I was inspired to weave more because of how well I was doing with the money I earn. Weaving is not my only source of income I am a farmer but I weave alot because the farming season comes a few months in a year.
My kids help me when they aren’t engaged in education activities since I have taught them how to weave a good basket. I am ready to teach anyone willing and determined to learn weaving as their full-time or part-time job.”
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SAME WEAVERS
SINCE 1997
A successful ongoing partnership has been established that employs over
30 locals and their families.
Nsoh Agana
“Basket weaving is generational in my family. Passed on to my brothers and me by our father and uncles.
I can weave oval, baby change, baby basket and both the three-set laundry basket and the single laundry with lid. Oval is the easiest because is not large as compared to the laundry basket and I can weave more in a day, unlike the three-set laundry baskets which is the hardest and I can weave one in three days.
I was motivated by the money I gain whenever I present my beautiful basket to the buyer. I teach my children, they are happy learning how to weave baskets and help me when they are on vacation from school.”
Soyiokoo Marry
“Basket weaving is part of my family’s tradition. I was taught by my mom and her sisters, they were the best weavers of their time. Learning to weave was not easy it was very tedious but I knew it will be useful for me.
I can weave the round basket, three-set fruit bowls, market basket, oval and the fan. I like weaving the round basket because I can weave more in a short period. The market basket is hard to weave because of the u-shaped nature.
I am also a trader and seamstress, I sell fruits and vegetables and use a three-set fruit bowl I weaved myself to showcase them. Weaving has helped me educate my children, I can buy them all the materials they need at school.”
Ayine Prince
“Basket weaving has always been part of my family’s tradition, I was taught basket weaving by my elder brother. Learning to weave was very easy because I was thought by an expert.
I can weave the oval basket, baby basket, baby change, laundry with lid, single hamper and dog baskets. The three-set laundry is the hardest to weave because of its height and three-set nature.
Aside from weaving, I farm during the rainy season. I can take care of myself with the money I earn through weaving. When my lovely wife was pregnant I weaved a Moses baby basket and when she delivered our son he used to sleep in Moses’ basket while I weave under the shea butter tree beside my home.”
Azuma Ayaw
“My Uncle thought me how to weave, weaving is part of my family tradition. Learning to weave was not an easy task. I use to weave all the time because I wanted to be an expert within the shortest possible time because I was financing my education with the money I earn through basket weaving.
I can weave the oval, the pot basket and the round basket. The hardest to weave is the pet basket.
Basket weaving is my only source of income although I am an unemployed graduate. I entertain myself with my radio and listen to local news while I weave. Basket weaving has been a great handicraft job for me and most of the people in my locality.”
Akolgo Matthew Akrubire
“Basket weaving has always been part of my family’s tradition. Learning to weave was a very difficult task. I learnt so fast and I can now weave the oval basket, baby basket, baby change, laundry with lid, single hamper and dog baskets.
The hardest to weave is the three-set laundry and the easiest to weave is the Moses baby basket.
Basket weaving has helped me pay for my senior high school fees. I can take care of myself with the money I earn through weaving. I have bought a motorbike also with the money I earn weaving.”
Ayama Atambiri
“Weaving is not part of my family’s tradition. My parents did not educate me because they did not have money. I got married and my mother inlaw taught me how to weave baskets.
A man used to come from another village every two days at night to teach us how to fasten the handle and finish our baskets. We had to weave at night to finish them for market next day. I can weave a round basket, a pot basket and a market basket.
Weaving is my only source of income. My children are happily educated with the money I earn. One of the people I taught, weaved a lady’s handbag for me in appreciation. I was very happy.”
Abanye Asackpala
“Weaving is not part of my family tradition, I was taught by my Mother-in-law and sisters-in-law. I was willing to learn because I knew they were gaining a lot from basket weaving. I started with the mini round basket and I can now weave the oval, pot basket and round basket.
I love weaving the oval since it fetches me more money despite being the hardest to weave. I always weave natural baskets because my mother-in-law used to weave natural baskets only. I love to chat with my relatives and friends whiles weaving, it is a form of entertainment when I weave.”
Atoei Atambiri
“I am from Sumbruno Yikene . I got married to my husband and learned weaving by watching experts from Bolgatangam, I had no one to teach me. I found it difficult at the beginning but I am a perfect weaver now since I was determined. I can now weave three different baskets, the round basket, the planter, the pot basket and the market baskets.
I used to go for help whenever I need urgent money, I don’t do that anymore because whenever I sell my baskets on market days I have a way of saving and I can provide for my needs and that of my children.”
Adampoda Seboka
“My parents and siblings were weavers. I learnt weaving from my mother and used to help her dye straw when I was little. I started to weave at the age of fifteen when I had no handicraft job.
I started with the straw fan and now I can weave the round basket which is the easiest, and the hat, market baskets and pot basket which is the hardest for me to weave. I love weaving large round baskets always.
I entertain myself with local fro fra music while I weave and have taught my children and sister in law.”
ALL OUR BASKETS ARE INDIVIDUALLY HAND WOVEN BY OUR CREATIVE FRIENDS IN GHANA.
We are in awe of the artists that weave these
unique baskets.
Abanye Asackpala
“I learned basket weaving from my colleagues when I was little. We use to weave for fun and look for an expert older person to pick out the best one from all the baskets.
I can weave the round basket, pot basket , hat, the market basket and the planter. The hardest to weave is the pot basket because of its pot nature whiles the easiest to weave is the hat. Basket weaving is my only source of income. I am fond of weaving hats all the time. I personally weaved a large hat for my husband which he puts on anytime he goes to his farm.”