The production of wood carving in Kenya is associated with the Akamba ethnic community of the arid and semi-arid eastern region of Kenya. The art of woodcarving dates back to 450 years ago. In other words, it is a perfected skill, which has been passed on from one generation to the next. The young apprentice works among the seasoned master carvers; learning all the techniques of the craft form splitting the timber to carving and hand polishing the finished forms. Many of the artisans specialize in sculpting a series of African forms, including the exotic wide range of wild animals found in Kenya and East Africa. All carvings must meet rigid standards of quality for the export market. While production norms are maintained, no two pieces are ever exactly the same. Traditionally, the women role is to sand paper the finished product as part of quality touch in terms of coming up with high quality products. The art of woodcarving as one would rightly put it is in Akamba people's blood. The carvers age range from 18-65 years. Kenya has over 60,000 highly skilled craftsmen who produce tones of woodcarvings a month. Woodcarving as an income generating activity supports about 350,000 people. The woodcarving production is by nature labor intensive. The craftsmen model each form using simple tools made from animal hide, local wood and spring steel fashioned into adzes and knives. No machinery is used in the process of transferring a tree- truck into hundreds of items both decorative and functional. The woodcarving products are very popular with the tourists visiting Kenya. Kenya's woodcarving items have over the years been exported to almost all parts of the world. The wood carvings products have not only acted as a source of income for a large number of Akamba community but have also been a commodity that has over the years earned Kenya a substantial amount of foreign exchange. This has been realized through the sale of a wide range of decorative and utility products such as the animal figures, traditional people masks, bookends, salad servers and many other items. Some of the wood that the carvers use or cut down have now come to be enlisted as endangered species and for that reason, the government has come up with stringent measure that requires planting of at least two trees for each tree fallen or cut. Besides that, the government has also put tough measures, which require issuance of license before any tree is cut or fallen down. These measures are aimed at avoiding further deforestation in Akamba arid and semi-arid areas and the entire country in general. According to the available research/statistics, the carvers need for wood account to 10% of the national consumption of hard wood.
Nubian Utility and Deco Basketry Products
The products are made from domestic animal hides e.g. cow, goats, sheep. Some of the products are made from calabashes and other available local materials. The artisans making the drums have to make sure the hide is dry and well treated to avoid insects eating into the drum products. The above products are made by a group in Nairobi province. The production place is packed with a beehive entrepreneurial activities where intermingling of the people from all part of the city is the order of the day. Like any other place in the world where a high interaction of people from all walks of life takes place, instances of mugging, beggary, petty crimes, theft from the car, pick pockets e.t.c. is inevitable. We do therefore advise our customers during such visit to be careful with their personal effects just like what they would do in other part of the world with a high interaction of people
Home, hotel and Restaurant utility - African Basketry Products - Fruits/ bread laundry table mats of Various designs
The traditional pots are made by women group based in Nyanza and Central provinces of Kenya. The special raw materials used are all sourced locally. . The product is rooted to the African culture as a domestic utensil. However, new patterns or design in line with peoples cultural background is evident from the wide range of utility pottery product available. With the increasing export demand of pottery product as a handy product for domestic use, more and more producer groups are taking the trade as an important source of income which is in turn also enabling us to promote pottery utility items in line with our African cultural heritage. However, it is important to add that the products are made according to indigenous labour intensive methods using local materials. It is also important to stress here that these traditional African pottery product are environmental friendly and non-harmful. They have been in use for centuries.
Size - SIZE: 27cmx21cmx5cmH (10.5" x 8" x 2"H) CODE - W37000898
Size - W/SHRINKPACK SIZE: 13 DIA X 9CM (MORTAR - 5"x5"x3.5"H PESTLE - 6.75"L) CODE - W37000899
Size - 15cmX5cmH SIZE: 6" X 6" X 2"H Code - W37000917
Size - 20CmX5cmH SIZE: 8" X 8" X 2"H Code - W37000918
Size - 30cm x 9cm x 5cmH SIZE: 12" X 3.5" X 2"H Code - W37000920
Size - W37000921 Code - 30cm x 14cm x 2.5cmH (12" x 5.5" x 1"H)
Size - 25.5cm x 9cm x 2.5cmH SIZE: 10" x 3.5" x 1"H Code - W37000921
Size - 26cm L SIZE: 10"L Code - W37000754
Size - 20 X 20 X 2.5CMH (8" X 8" X 1"H) Code - W37000635
Size - 26 X 18 X 2.5CMH (10" X 7" X 1"H) Code - W37000636
Size - : 10 X 10 X 4cmH (4" X 4" X 1.5"H) Code - W37000637
Size - 20 X 20 X 5CMH (8" X 8" X 2"H) Code - W37000639
Size - 26cm X 26cm X 2.5cmH (10" X 10" X 1"H) Code - W37000717
Size - 17cmX11cmX1.5cm (6.75"X4.25"X0.6"THICK) Code - W37000771
Size - SIZE: 26cm X 18cm X 1.5cm Thick SIZE: 10" x 7" x 0.6" thick Code - W37000626
