Traditional African baskets help economy and education in Ghana

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The Alpharetta Farmers Market returned for spring with a slew of new and familiar vendors, including the Akayati Craft Center booth stocked with a variety of colorful bags and baskets.

While other stalls tout their farm-to-table products, Akayati’s is different. Their products travel thousands of kilometers to be sold every Saturday on the family stand, and for good reason. They are the only sellers in the market selling authentic handmade Ghanaian woven baskets.

Akayati Crafts Center is a small business based in Sugar Hill with roots in the historic Cape Coast of Ghana, making it the only stall representing an international small business.

The stall features a variety of hand-dyed and hand-woven baskets imported from Ghana. Those that are not imported were made from traditional imported materials.

“I ship straw from my village in Ghana and hand-weave the baskets myself at home,” said Baba Akayati, co-owner of Akayati Crafts.

Their full selection of Bolga baskets is also available in Akayati’s online store (akayaticraft.com) and varies in shape, size and color. Some of their basket selections range from traditional round and square shapes to more unique shapes like pet beds and shoulder bags.

Bolga baskets are internationally known, not only for their unique and intricate designs, but also for their durability. Their longevity can be attributed to the fact that they are handcrafted by indigenous weavers from Bolgatanga, Africa.

“My region and my village are known for our basket weaving designs, passed down from generation to generation,” Akayati explained.

This weaving practice, from which the baskets take their name, was built around an ancient and highly respected artisanal culture. Bolgatanga uses crafts to supplement its agriculture-based economy.

“I learned to weave baskets when I was a kid,” said Sharece Jackson, co-owner of Akayati Crafts. “Basketry is the main source of income in my village. »

The art of grass weaving is passed down from generation to generation, from eldest to child, primarily through family matriarchs. The women of the village use a sustainable practice of “kinkahé“, or elephant grass collection, which leaves the root of the grass intact. The grass returns from the roots left in the ground intact to be harvested again at a later date, making the practice fully sustainable. Jackson spoke about his childhood experience learning the art of “eh eh.»

“As children, we learn to chop and dye straw naturally. When we get a little older, we teach you weaving patterns specific to our village.

Due to Bolgatanga’s often unpredictable climate, the craft ensures that a valuable export can still be available during periods of low harvest. These trades range from leatherwork to pottery and are mainly carried out by indigenous women.

Akayati Crafts maintains the feeling of additional economic support by donating proceeds from the sale of its baskets to local schools in Cape Coast, where brothers Baba and Joseph Akayati started their business in 2002.

“Money sent home contributes to generational change by paying for college tuition for the next generation,” Jackson added.

Funds generated from sales at venues such as the Alpharetta Farmers Market are being felt in Cape Coast, as donations from the Akayati Craft Center helped provide 80 desks for the Afrangua Basic School and Mpeseduaze in January.

The Akayats then explained the impact of supporting their business on their village in Ghana.

“By supporting our business, customers encourage our family in Bolgatanga, Ghana to continue to preserve our hundreds of years old cultural heritage of basketry,” Jackson explained.