Shop for Ghana Bolga Baskets | Ghana Information

Ghana, West Africa

Bolgatanga Market Baskets or “Tehei”

The People

These genuine Bolga baskets are exclusively woven by the indigenous Gurune (also known as Frafra) people around the town of Bolgatanga in Northern Ghana.

Bolga is the crafts center of Northern Ghana. For many generations, weaving has been a traditional skill of the people there. The soil around Bolgatanga is not fertile enough for extensive agricultural activities. The region has an erratic rainfall pattern and generally harsh weather conditions. As a result, handicraft activities such as basket weaving, leather work, and pottery are undertaken mostly by women to supplement their incomes since they are primarily subsistence farmers.

Fair Trade Practices

This weaving group has a mission: assisting the rural people of Northern Ghana to earn good incomes in order to care of their children. They believe when a woman can create an income, it puts food into the bowl of a child, and that it is also a means of promoting selfesteem for the women, children, and the entire village.

Creation Process

• Veta vera straw, known locally as kinkahe, is collected from the tops of the grass stalk, then each piece is split in half vertically.

• Each half of the split straw is then twisted tightly by rolling it back together to give it strength.

• The straw is put in bunches and dyed in boiling water. For bright colors the straw is dyed yellow first, then the color.

• The weaver carefully selects appropriate straw for the base, sides and handle. The selection of the proper grass for various parts of the basket is critical to good weaving.

• Weaving starts at the base and works up to the rim. The rims are generally finished flat, or wrapped with straw to form a tube like edge.

• There are a variety of different handles, but all are made with a sturdy wrapping technique around a grass core.

• Remaining bits of straw that are sticking out of the basket are carefully trimmed off.

• Leather handles are skillfully applied by local leather workers.

• A medium basket takes about 3 days. Some shapes and patterns are more difficult to weave and take longer.

Shop for Ghana Bolga Baskets | Ghana Information

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