Traditional fine-weave Sisal Basket 

This is one of the famous Taita Baskets, hand-woven by women in the Taita/Taveta region of Southern Kenya. Every one is UNIQUE. Every one has been individually designed and HANDWOVEN. Every Woman has their own STORY. We want their talent and creativity to SHINE through this age-old ART. Let's CELEBRATE these baskets PAMOJA!

These unique baskets are made out of sisal which is grown either on farms belonging to the basket weavers, or else purchased from sisal estates in coast province. The leaves of the sisal plant are used to obtain a fibre which is rolled to twine, and then be woven to a basket. 

The Taita ladies from the Kasigau Weaver’s Group dye the fibres themselves and then roll the twine on their lap. Making baskets is a very labour intensive art. The baskets come in a number of different colours and patterns, with each design entirely made up by these artistic Taita ladies!

Weaving baskets is a tradition in Taita culture. Hadithi baskets are made by Basket Weaver Women’s Groups in the rural villages between Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks. Most groups meet every two weeks to weave baskets together, and continue weaving in the meantime at home, on the bus or whilst walking to their neighbours.  At the moment Hadithi is working with over 600 weavers in the area. We visit each group every three months and purchase the baskets on the spot. These meetings are also a great opportunity to chat with the groups and discover some of their needs.