This week the Gakou family, who make the reins used in SAHEL bags received a visit from the Paam Laafi medical team. Partly funded by profits from bag sales, the purpose of the visit was to give the children of the village a free medical check up and medication if necessary. The nearest town is…
Thirty years ago it was commonplace to see wooden looms in villages across the Sahel. Like horses, they were an essential part of everyday life that has all but disappeared from the region. Nowadays it can take a four wheel drive and a GPS to find one, as I found out recently while seeking out…
Sahelian women know a thing or two about resourcefulness. How else could they raise six children (the national average) and live in one of the world’s harshest climates? Take Maryama Tamboura for example. Every rainy season, she grows three or four cotton plants. They provide just enough cotton to spin into yarn for fixing her…
Since motorbikes replaced horses as the primary means of transport in Burkina Faso, demand for horse reins has fallen sharply. But the Gakou family in the north of the country is keeping the tradition alive. […]
Goats are prolific across the Sahel, and when they are eaten, nothing is wasted. The skins are perfect for craftwork such as braiding. This article explains the process by which goat skin becomes leather. […]
Tassles are an important part of traditional Fulani reins. They are swung in the air to make the horse go faster. They are also an important part of some of our SAHEL bags. This article explains how the tassles are made. […]
As the means of securing a saddle to the horse, a girth strap needs to be strong and durable – which means that they also make great handles for our SAHEL totes. This article explains how these girth straps are made. […]
Unlike European stirrup leathers, Fulani stirrup leathers are multi-stranded and wound to suit the length of the rider. The Gakou family in the north of Burkina Faso have been making stirrup leathers for centuries. Here is how they do it. […]