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.