Artisan: Adams Salifu

Adams Salifu a Kente weaver. Adams Salifu is a kente weaver and adinkra printer from Ntonso, a village near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. He is the Secretary of the Amangoase (meaning ''under the mango tree'') Association. His association advocates for its weavers, printers, and traders to use traditional methods of textile production. He has also participated in various HIV/AIDS awareness programs within Ntonso and throughout the district. Like most young men in Ntonso, Adams learned his weaving and printing from his father. It is important to the people of Ntonso to pass down their craft from generation to generation.

Artisan: The Sowutum Mothers Association (SMA)

The Sowutum Mothers Association (SMA) who make table cloths, napkins and bags. The Sowutum Mothers Association is an association of single mothers in Accra who have formed a self-help association. They have learned sewing skills and have developed lines of products that use African fabric to make western style table linens. The money that is raised is used by the women for health care and education for their children.

Artisan: Kwabena Kufour Afriyie Addo Jr

Kwabena Kufour Afriyie Addo Jr. of K. BAKA Designs who supplies us with T shirts. Kwabena is an artist who was born and raised in Accra. He has a shop in Accra where he works and exhibits his art. He loves painting, craftwork, bill boards, screen printing and pictorial batik. His pictorial batiks are natural and reflect the life and culture around him. He sees many of his images in dreams and visions before he paints them. He supplies eShopAfrica with their stylish range of African t shirts - he's also happy to take special commissions either for t shirts or batiks.

Artisan: Mary Govine

Mary Govine Mary makes unique cloth gift bags. She lives in Tema near Accra and learnt sewing 20 years ago. She sews at home and has trained many girls in her neighbourhood. She currently works with one employee but two more will soon be joining her. She is married with 4 children.

Artisan: Livingstone Lumor

Livingstone Lumor of Living Arts supplies us with a great range of T shirts. Livingstone's parents are from Keta in the Volta region. He was educated in Accra and graduated from Ghana college of Arts in 1991 where he studied graphic art, painting, cartoons and textiles. After various assignments Livingstone established his own company "The Living Arts" in 1995 which specializes in T shirt printing, tie and dye and painting on canvas. He also works with other textiles. His business has grown and he is now a recognized artisan whose work can be found at the top exhibitions and bazaars in Accra. He is also frequently invited by Embassies where his creativity is recognized. As well as three employees he also has two apprentices. He has a special empathy with street children and plans to have street children as students so that they can learn the "tie and dye" process. Livingstone is happy to take special commissions or develop unique designs for customers.

Artisan: Samuel Naah

Samuel Naah the Ga decorated chest (coffin) carpenter. Samuel trained for many years at a traditional Ga coffin workshop where he learned the skills necessary to make these amazing products. Whilst still serving his apprenticeship he started taking commissions for eShopAfrica in his spare time. On the strength of the orders that we are raising for him he has been able to pay off his apprentice fees and set up his own workshop and his business is growing steadily.

Artisan: Eric Adotey Naah

Eric Adotey Naah makes Thematic boxes.

My name is Eric Kpakpo Adotey, a young Ga man born at Mamprobi in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana but currently residing at Nungua, a suburb of Accra. After completing the Junior High School, my parents couldn't afford my fees so I could go no further, therefore I became a drop out. I couldn't entertain idleness therefore I decided to learn a vocation.I then apprenticed with a famous Ga coffin-maker, 'Paa Joe Carpentry workshop' situated in Nungua and served for twelve years. Under normal circumstances, every apprentice is to serve a period of four years, but then after the four years I felt the need to serve for another term for a wider exposure in the business- that was after my graduation. Again, after completion of that term, I was not financially sound to establish my own business therefore decided to serve and work at the same time with the same workshop. It was then that I had the opportunity to meet some clients like eShopAfrica.I managed to save some money and established my own business; "Eric's Carpentry Workshop" after four year. My workshop is situated at La, a suburb of Accra. Currently, I have two apprentices whom I am training. I specialize in miniature coffins and chests with mind blowing designs, different shapes and sizes which are exported and also sold locally.My dream is to expand the business, and to continue to satisfy my clients by producing the best on both local and international markets in the near future.Some challenges that I face now have to do with archaic equipment which needs to be replaced by modern ones for quicker and excellent finishing.I wish to be well-established with business before tying the knot; that means I'm single.My most peculiar commission was to make a womb chest for a doctor. I make life size chests of people's pets. I can make any design you desire, just send photos!

Artisan: Rita Nkornu-Hayford

Rita Nkornu-Hayford makes Collectible African dolls

My name is Rita Nkornu and I'm from the Eastern Region of Ghana. I started this business fifteen years ago. My husband and I are both artists in screen printing, block and batik. We started African women activities doll making as a hobby at home and later developed it into business. Our dolls are very popular now.It takes two days to complete three to five dolls if we have the basic materials available.We're blessed with two children: a boy and a girl who are fifteen and eleven years respectively.This is a job we both love and we wish to expand the business in the very near future with totally new types of African dolls.

Artisan: Emmanuelle Nyadzor of SEFAM

Emmanual of Sefam who supply masks, statues and boxes.

Emmanuelle Nyadzor is chief carpenter of SEFAM Ghana and comes from a traditional family of carpenters and carvers. The 4 brothers each have a different speciality and together they make high quality carvings and furniture in Nswam just outside Accra. The workshop employs 15 people full time and up to 40 people when they have large orders. They base their products on the traditional skills that they learnt from their father and grandfathers but are working to add innovation to them. Their products show a perfect blend of tradition and modernity. Recently they have been supplying a major US chain of luxury craft shops with their products.

Artisan: Trish Graham

Trish is a jewellery designer who has been living in West Africa for nearly ten years. She is an expert on many African arts and crafts and is a published expert on beads. Her beautful pieces are made from beads made by all the bead makers above and more. Because she is in close touch with the bead makers she often commissions her own beads for particular designs. She can do the same for you.

Artisan: Paul Amponsah

I'm Paul Amponsah , 29 years old and 5 feet tall. I speak Twi and English.

I work with brass handicraft at Kurofrom a village near Kumasi the capital of the Ashanti Region. I learnt brass casting from my uncle at the age of 9 when I used to help him after school hours and weekends. As a child I was interested in cultural items and the status that gold held in our society.My first design was a bird. My uncle was very proud of me that day!! I completed school in 1997. I worked with my uncle for 2 years, now he is in America so he handed over the business to me which is growing since then.In 1999 I was chosen by UNESCO to travel to Murano one of the world centres in glass bead making in Italy to learn more about other hand made beads cultures. The trip was very interesting and educational.At present I have fifteen workers, ten are masters and the other five are apprentices. I have some visitors too from out side the country who came and learnt this unique art from me. I love to travel out side the country to teach others about Brass Bead making. I love what I am doing. I am supporting my parents and helping a lot in the community I'm not married.

Artisan: Oklah Tetteh

My name is Oklah Tetteh and I am 32 years old. I am in village called Obawale Tsebi in Manya Krobo which located in the Eastern Region of Ghana. I was born into a Krobo family with a long history of bead-making

At the age of ten years, I was already familiar with bead-making because my father is a bead-maker. I helped my father after school hours whilst in the basic school. Therefore, from my father I learnt bead-making and practiced it as a part time job after my basic education.In 1993, I established a small bead production workshop, starting with Powder Glass beads. I made only 'bodoum' bead designs in 1994 and I introduced Recycled Glass Beads with new sizes and different colour combination. In 1996, my beads did well on the market therefore attracting more customers. I started exporting my products to the U.S., U.K., Germany, Italy, and Denmark, just to mention a few. Due to the quality of my products and prompt delivery, I received orders from eshopAfrica from 1997 till date of which I also play my part as a supplier. My company keeps expanding as the days go by.I am currently looking forward to help people who are jobless and willing to learn bead-making to earn a better living.I am a family man with two boys namely; Evans Tetteh who is four years old and Desmond Tetteh who is almost one year old.

Artisan: Florence Martey, TK Beads

Florence Martey of T K Designer Beads. Florence is one Ghana's leading bead designers who produce high quality hand-made designer beads. It is very unusual to find women running a bead manufacturing business. Her designs draw both on traditional and modern themes and, as with many West African artisans, her use of colour is outstanding. Her beads are greatly sought after in Ghana - she makes them using the powder glass method. Pieces of uncoloured glass are ground to a powder and then coloured and poured into bead moulds in the same way as different coloured sands are poured to make sand pictures. The beads are then baked to fuse them together.

Florence says: "Three years ago in 2005, TK bead industry was moved from Odumasi-Krobo, which is my home-town, to Amrahia on the Accra-Dodowa road near the Christian University College.The reason for this migration is because most of our customers are from Accra and continuously complained of the long distance creating some sort of inconvenience for them.From 2006 to 2007, T.K. beads have been to overseas for Trade-fairs, exhibition as well as lecturing on how Traditional Ghanaian Beads are made. We traveled on two occasions to California and once in New York for Trade shows. T.K. beads was also invited to Tanzania in the year 2007 for six weeks lesson period to teach an N.G.O. about the production of Ghanaian beads, of which they are currently practicing.For the past three years, T.K. Bead Industry has expanded greatly. We started with fifteen workers and now we have twenty-five workers; fifteen males and ten females. We also engage in training interested people in bead-making. A show room is being put up and will be completed very soon.The fact is I never regretted being a bead producer. We still love our work because it is the best and also generates good income which enhances a better living. I am therefore urging workers to be serious with their work especially those in the bead-making industry because it is the best source good living.My husband and I have been married for eleven years and we are blessed with two kids; a boy and a girl who are twelve 12 and eight 8 years respectively. "

Artisan - Kumah of Lizzy Beads

Kumah of Lizzy Beads is a well known bead maker and is the designer of the colourful and creative line of Lizzy Beads

Artisan - Eric Kpakpo Adotuey

Eric Kpakpo Adotuey, is a young Ga man in Accra, Ghana. He finished junior school but did not have the money to go on. He did not want to be lazy, so he apprenticed with famous Ga coffin maker Paa Joe, in Nungua, Ghana. He says he likes carpentry. After nine years, he has finished his apprenticeship and has now opened his own workshop specializing in miniature coffins. His most peculiar commission was to make a womb chest for a doctor. He has made life size chests of people's pets. He can make any design you desire, just send photos.

Artisan - Maata N Tudu Association

Maata N Tudu Association who supply us with Bolgatanga baskets. The Maaata N Tudu is an association of rural women in Bolgatanga, Northern Ghana who have come together to improve the quality of their lives through skills training, savings, loans and mutual self-help. Many of these women live on less than $1 a day.

eShopAfrica pays a much higher rate for their products than they are able to get in the local markets. This is one of our most socially valuable products as all baskets purchased directly help to improve the lives of these rural women.

Artisan: Bob Dennis

Artisan - Bob Dennis
Bob Dennis the Ewe Kente weaver. Bob is from Agbozume in the Volta Region. Amongst the Ewe, whose live across the border between Eastern Ghana and Western Togo, the art of weaving is a legacy handed from father to son. This is how Bob learned and started helping his father by winding threads onto bobbins at the age of six. As soon as hig legs could reach the treadles he was allowed to move on to loom. Under his father's tutelage Bob has learned everything there is to know about Kente weaving. He has written a book on Ewe Kente weaving which is to be published soon and also teaches classes in Ewe Kente weaving to pass on his knowledge to the youth of Ghana.

Artisan: Accra Kente Weaver's Cooperative

Artisan - Accra Kente Weaver's Cooperative
Accra Kente weavers cooperative, Accra who supply kente cloth & strips. The kente weaver's in Accra operate as a cooperative - we partner with the chief weaver who ensures the kente is of the highest quality. They are experts at producing Kente cloth and strips in the traditional Asante designs.

Artisan supporter: Eric Boateng

Artisan supporter - Eric Boateng
Eric Boateng a textile trader is from Ghana. He grew up in the business of textiles. His mother and sister were textile traders and by helping them after school he became familiar with many different types. Now that he has completed his schooling, his mother is able to retire as Eric has become the key trader. Although his family were originally kente cloth traders Eric has made contact with artisans in Mali and Burkina Faso producing mudcloth and indigo cloth and he has become one of the best known mudcloth traders in Ghana. He is studying computers to upgrade his skills - he says that you just can't stay in one place you have to learn and improve yourself.

Artisan: Village Artisanal de Ouagadougou

Artisan - Village Artisanal de Ouagadougou
Village Artisanal de Ouagadougou is a group of weavers ofpaigne or wide loom cloth. They use commercial cotton thread to hand weave beautiful lengths of material or shawls. Colours and designs are constantly changing but stripes are always a favourite as are ikat patterns.