Early next year I’ll be returning to Burkina Faso where I’m excited about researching more into traditional crafts. We’ve been in the UK for a few months to have a baby and have left our Fulani friends in the Sahel with orders for leather bag straps and hand-woven cotton cushions and blankets.
A phone call to Ussman Tamboura at the weekend revealed that he has started on the cushions but taken a break for the tayre, which literally means the ‘cutting’ i.e. the harvest. It’s been a good one this year so there is lots to do and people are relieved after last year’s bad crop.
Ussman dreams of making a good regular income from weaving and his sons following in the family tradition. Here’s a short video of him weaving and talking about his aspirations. If you’d like to place an order for cushions or a blanket please contact me.