Some of these techniques are used in the making of SAHEL products and some are just interesting.
Spinning is something that any Fulani woman over fifty here is familiar with. Before the markets became mile high with European cast-offs and cheap synthetics, clothes were spun and woven by hand using locally grown cotton. Times have changed and there are few ladies who still practise the skill. But in a wuro (a family’s…
Summer is upon us and most Europeans dream of hazy days spent enjoying the sunshine, and maybe – for the more adventurous, nights spent out under the stars too. Glamping, Mongolian yurts and wigwams make the idea of camping more appealing to the aesthetically minded. And as a seasonal garden installation to captivate the kids,…
The phrase ‘the grass is always greener’ came to mind while flicking through a sample book of plant and mineral dyed hand woven fabrics at a workshop in Burkina Faso recently. ‘It’s for the European market’ says Mme Lankoande, ‘It’s not popular here, but it’s what people want in Italy and France’. The irony is…
In the remote village of Barani in Burkina Faso, close to the Mali border, people are busy preparing for the annual FECHIBA festival which this year will be from 8 to 9 March. The security threat is sure to impact the number of foreigners travelling for the festival, but there will still be plenty of…
In Burkina Faso traditional stirrups come in various different forms – rounded or flattened, larger or smaller – and horsemen of old used to have a selection of different stirrups for use on different occasions, whether visiting a friend, attending a wedding or going on a long journey. Traditionally stirrups were made out of iron…
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. […]