Galleries

PHOTO GALLERIES

A close second to actually buying a plane ticket to Accra, the following photo galleries will transport you to the villages of northern Ghana. You will get an intimate look at the multiple steps that go into weaving a basket by hand, as well as a revealing view into the traditional way of life in Bolgatanga. You will also follow the winding journey that a basket takes as it travels from the market in Bolga to your doorstep. And just as there is a story behind every piece of art, there is a weaver behind every basket. The well-being of the remarkable and renowned weavers of Bolga has always been our top priority and our non-profit, Every Basket Helps, embodies that belief and that mission, as exemplified in those galleries. May you come away informed, engaged, and inspired…

EVERY BASKET HELPS™

African Market Baskets™ donates 10% of its profits to Every Basket Helps™.  The money from this program helps with health care, school supplies, mosquito nets, and the building of the weaving center.

HOW A BASKET IS MADE

When holding a basket in your hand, admiring the artistry and tapestry of color, you may likely wonder how it came to be. Can something so intricate, so unique, so detailed, so striking to the eye, and so durable, really be made by hand from simple river grass? The answer, astonishingly, is yes, and the weavers of Bolgatanga are nothing short of masterful at what they do. The following photo gallery will detail the whole process step-by-step, but afterward, make sure to watch a hyper-speed time-lapse called “Fast basket” in our video gallery, which shows the complete hours-long weaving process in just minutes.

THE JOURNEY OF A BASKET

When the last bit of woven straw has been trimmed and a completed basket is ready to sell at the Bolga market, its journey has only just begun. It will then pass through many hands, traveling down dusty roads and across vast oceans as it makes its way to you. Trace those many fascinating steps in the following photo gallery.

LIFE IN BOLGA

Bolgatanga, located in the Upper East region of Ghana, is distinctive in its landscape, its culture, and its rich history of craftwork. Although farming is still crucial to the livelihood of villagers, in the last few decades basket-weaving has transformed and elevated the local economy. The following gallery provides a window into daily life in Bolga, where traditions hold strong even amidst an evolving way of life.

GOING TO MARKET

The main market in Bolgatanga, which is a thriving nexus of activity and takes place every three days, attracts villagers from all across the region. Because it is so central to their economy, people are incredibly dedicated in making the long trek to market, arriving from remote areas by whatever means available. As you’ll see in the following photos, market day reflects, in a compelling way, the devotion, commitment, and spirit of the people of Bolgatanga.

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