Decorate your home with these awesome African hand-made products

Handmade items can give a characteristic look to homes… and Africa is an excellent place to find them (or order them from. If you are looking for handmade products in Africa to decorate your home (or any space) with, consider these types. 

Baskets

This is something that has been done for centuries by African denizens. They have a large variety of choices of materials – grasses, palm trees, reeds, roots and wood – to which they add various colours and patterns to create visually stunning baskets.  The two common techniques are the plaited technique, where they soak the plant fiber and then twist them; and the sewn technique where they make thin strips of the material and stitch them together. 

Beads and jewellery

African culture uses beads and jewellery for a lot of purposes ranging from wearing them to using them for decorative purposes and even for funeral adornments. Some even consider wearing them as a good-luck charm. 

The materials have varied over the years, with glass beads being a game-changer for them.  Some artisans make modern beads using plastic pen caps, and others use things like coins and even aluminium. This is one of the biggest industries in Africa.

Pottery

Pottery has been around for a long time in Africa. Pieces that are over 10,000 years old were even found. This is a versatile material that can be used for anything from cooking to toys to even burial coffins. 

There is a big difference between functional pottery and sculptures. Both have a place in African life, but they can also be used to show a person’s place in society. 

Textiles

These are used for a variety of reasons – as a gift for a particular social occasion, to show status in a community, to show symbolic messages, and even as a burial garment. They use different types of looms and materials to make these and there are many different choices, including carvings, to give your home a distinct African flavour. Kids can even make some at home.