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The art of weaving is timeless and multi-generational, predominantly undertaken by the women in the village. A very social activity, the women will often sit inside or outdoors underneath a lush mango tree, singing, dancing and laughing as they weave — a beautiful tradition that delights and inspires, often prompting the men and children sitting…
So we’re always talking about our baskets, but did you know we also sell authentic Dashiki shirts from Ghana? The word “dashiki” refers to the loose-fitting pullover which originated in West Africa: work tunics for men that were comfy enough to wear during the warmer weather. It’s now worn by women as well, often repurposed…
Feeling a little disconnected from both yourself and Mother Earth lately? Drumming has been proven to help people reconnect in very powerful ways. The beautiful Djembe dates back hundreds of years from West Africa, and the creation of these drums was a very spiritual process. It is said that the playing of these drums and…
Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful, supportive and inspirational mothers out there! While here in Australia we celebrate Mother’s Day, over in West Africa the tradition of mothers day is not something widely celebrated. West African culture does not have a calendar day in the year where they celebrate mothers collectively, however there is…
Delighted to have our bolga baskets featured in Esteban Cortazar’s pop up store in Cartagena, Colombia ? Our selection of round baskets can be found here – available in small, medium, large and extra large sizes. Handmade in Ghana from elephant grass and leather ?
Simon travelled 1000km north of the capital city of Accra over the weekend to visit our friends and artists in Northern Ghana. These women have been weaving their entire lives, a communal tradition that has been alive for generations. Simon was witness to a traditional thank you dance from the women after he bought a…
Dogon masks have become known as the most acclaimed masks amongst tribal art collections and have also influenced renowned Western 20th-century artists such as Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, as well as the Cubist movement. The masks are usually carved by those who will wear them in ritual performance. There are approximately seventy-eight standard types of…
The Yoruba are an ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria and southern Benin in West Africa who share a rich history and culture. Here are eight interesting facts about the traditional Yoruba culture: 1. According to Yoruba mythology, all Yoruba people are descendants from the hero Odua or Oduduwa. 2. The language of the Yorubas, known as Yoruba,…
In the south of Burkina Faso near the border with Ghana lies a small village of about 1.2 hectares, called Tiébélé. This is home of the Kassena people, who are part of the wider ethnic group known as Gurunsi. Kassena societies are made up mainly of farmers without social or political stratification. The group has no…
The Mossi people make up the largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso and the second-largest ethnic group in the Ivory Coast, living mostly in the villages of the Naoinon and Nakanbe river basin. In 1996, the estimated population of Burkina Faso was 10,623,323, with five to six million estimated to be Mossi or of Mossi…
Although the very first version of Christianity was purely western, the religion has greatly evolved to embrace African traditions giving birth to religious ceremonies with a native touch. The following African traditions have successfully taken root in the festivity culture now knocking on our doors! Bring authenticity to the holidays with handcrafted African gifts, each…
Simon’s love for West African art was sparked in 1997 when he ventured to Ghana on a musical pilgrimage. He instantly fell for the creative soul of the region and returned for a truly epic tour the following year: a 8,000km journey across Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Mali. It is Simon’s belief…
