Handcrafted Baskets

These traditional handmade baskets come from Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Traditionally, these baskets were mainly used for farming activities such as storage (e.g. tubers like yam), and colanders to separate grains like millet, rice, or wheat from waste. The baskets have not always had handles like we see today. With the growing patronage, their practicality, and their versatile characteristics, weavers have come up with the idea of making versions with handles to serve as market bags or shopping bags. This makes it easy and practical for carrying items in them. For about 10 years now, Bolga Baskets have become popular and appealing to foreigners and westerners. The skill, hard work, and patience that go into making these baskets are admirable and one can understand why people are falling in love with these treasures. If you thought the baskets have always come in different colours like you see today, I’m afraid that hasn’t been the case. They were normally made in natural nude colours, which is in fact the colour of the dried elephant grass. Over the course of several years, local artisan weavers have adapted to meet the taste of foreign buyers, who love them for their beauty, sturdiness, and versatility. The weavers have done so by adding a touch of colours to get more variety to suit the increasing demand from across the globe. These creations come in all shapes and sizes and are available in a vibrant array of colours and different patterns of weaving.