The tradition of handcrafting baskets is a labor intensive and highly skilled craft that has been a part of the Rwandan culture for centuries and is passed down from generation to generation. These baskets are used as containers for grain and food products, as packages for small gifts, and in times past Rwandan women used them to exchange secret greetings or messages with one another.

Woven from natural sisal fiber and hand dyed in red and white at Gahaya Links, these hand-dyed and crafted baskets make a beautiful decorative accessory for your home. Having started with a modest group of 20 artisans in 2004, Gahaya Links now works towards the social and economic empowerment of over 4000 basket weavers in the region. 

• Measure 8-1/2” tall x 5” diameter

Handmade in Rwanda and fair trade imported.

Agaseke basketry is a traditional craft practiced by the Rwandan women. Weaving these intricate baskets is a time-consuming process and requires much attention by the weaver. The baskets are made from natural fibers such as sisal, sweet grass, raffia and banana leaves which are abundantly found in Rwanda.

Once these fibers are extracted, they are washed a number of times to ensure they are clean, and after that they are dried. Natural fibers can be dyed either with natural pigments such as tea leaves or available commercial dyes. The fibers are dyed in a hot dye bath and then dried till they are completely ready for the weaving process.

The weavers use several strands of fibers grouped together to sew each coil of a basket. Weavers continue to coil the strands, making larger or smaller circles, outwards or upwards as they create their products. Use of different colors of fiber strands woven in diverse styles creates intricate patterns. Most of the patterns on these baskets are traditional motifs and designs which have been woven for centuries by these artisans.