Unmasking African Heritage through Fair Trade

Posted by Jane

November 7, 2008

The following is a Business Development Update by Rachel Ngondo, Regional Development Executive, Africa

I hope you have all had a wonderful week and as you may all know it’s been a special week for Kenyans after Obama’s historical victory. Everyone here claims to be related to Obama in some way and its hilarious with some saying he will be sending gifts to Kenyans. What is amazing is that Obama’s grandmother has become a celebrity. The road to her home has been resurfaced and now she is getting electricity connected to her home. In addition a police post has been erected and manned by eight policemen round the clock to provide her security. She has drawn water from a nearby well but that will be history as plans are underway to bring tap water to her home.

US elections and all the excitements a side, I have been in meetings with various producers and I would like to tell you about the African Heritage Design Company which is based in Nairobi with outlets in different parts of the city. This is one of the oldest African art companies that was founded by Allan Donovan , 40 years ago. Allan was an American bureaucrat that was sent to Nigeria during the Biafra war. In 2003 the organisation was bought by a Kenyan woman and the name changed to African Heritage Design Company. This company works with producers all over the country where they train producers, who make various handicraft products. In 2007, they had a huge order for masks enough to produce for a whole year!

Did you know that ancestry is very important to the African people? In order to show honour to their ancestors, masks are designed and decorated with elaborate hair and jewellery to show great wealth and honour to their ancestors. Masks are greatly revered in African culture and many are used in ceremonies generally depicting deities, spirits of ancestors, mythological beings, good and or evil spirits, the dead, animal spirits, and other beings believed to have power over humanity.

Today you will find decorated masks in some rural homestead with special built huts where ceremonies to honor ancestors are held. I remember my grandfather used to tell me…

‘People do not die…they are here around us and if you listen carefully, they will talk to you and give you advice on how to live’

So African Heritage are giving an opportunity to rural producers to earn a livelihood through an important part of their culture. I met with Abdi who has worked with the organisation for many years in different capacities, helping communities earn a living from their works of culture. African Heritage are now in the process of becoming fair trade certified, and in my opinion they have been working within some of the principles of fair trade for a number of years. They have used their profits in development projects in the communities they work in.