Peace Baskets, known agaseke, have long been an essential part of Banyarwandan culture in central Africa. Typically used for holding foods or grains, these baskets are also used as gifts at important events like weddings. Weaving in Banyarwanda culture is traditionally a female artform passed down from mother to daughter, but after the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, this tradition … [Read more...] about Traditional Peace Basket (Agaseke): Researched by Jonathan Kodner
Zulu wire baskets, called imbenge, are hand-woven baskets that use both bare and plastic-coated wire. The imbenge originated when Zulu men, taking breaks from their work at factories, began weaving baskets from discarded scraps of telephone wire. The popularity of these baskets has encouraged the development of imbenge to become a sought-after artform, and today imbenge are … [Read more...] about Orange and Brown Spiral Wire Basket (Imbenge): Researched by Jonathan Kodner
During summers, Hausa women harvest different varieties of sweetgrass in order to weave them into bowls or flat tray baskets that are used to store or hold grains. The Blue, Black and Red Shallow Basket is a type of flat basket that is usually given as a wedding gift, and it is displayed as a colorful decoration when it is not being used. These baskets are still used today in … [Read more...] about Blue, Black, and Red Shallow Basket: Researched by Jonathan Kodner
The Red and Black Triangle Pattern Basket, traditionally known as an Oops bowl, is a type of sweetgrass basketry made by the Zulu culture of southeastern Africa. Although properly woven Oops bowls may be water-tight, they are typically used for holding foods such as nuts, sweets, or potato chips. Young Zulu children are taught to make these baskets in order to carry on the … [Read more...] about Red and Black Triangle Pattern Basket (Oops Bowl): Researched by Jonathan Kodner
Women of the Ovambo culture of Namibia carefully weave baskets like the Basket with Center Bowl using a traditional coil-weaving style. These baskets are traditionally used for food serving or for grain storage, but they are also made for the tourist trade, to be sold in order to help support the family. Women in different communities often weave together, but each women adds … [Read more...] about Basket with Center Bowl: Researched by Jonathan Kodner