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13 One-of-a-Kind Handmade Gifts That Prove Africa's Design Mastery
BySheila GatumuOnMarch 26, 2025
Three_beaded_multicolour_greeting_cards

Source: Airi Handmade

Exceptional Handmade Gifts That Celebrate Africa’s Rich Craft Heritage

 

In this roundup, we get into 13 handmade gifts that showcase African craftsmanship. Each piece we have selected is something to experience.

 

From intricate  beadwork  that takes weeks to complete to  Soapstone sculptures that capture the soul of an entire community, these gifts embody connection, artistry, and the incredible talent flowing through African creative traditions.

 

Planter Baskets  that will liven up reading nooks toMudcloth Fabricthrows handmade in Mali as a specialty buy or  hand-beaded greeting cards  Every piece empowering African Artisans and communities  directly from Africa

 

 

1. Sunshine Hand Beaded Greeting Card on 100% Recycled Paper

 

Our beadwork is done by an all-women beading initiative from the Maasai traditional community in Kenya. Our admiration of our women beading artisans stems from their ability to balance modern and traditional life where the younger women are now encouraged to learn and embrace their tradition of cultural beadwork as a form of identity and expression even as they pursue modern goals. 

 

 

 

2.  Cobalt Tone African Basket Planter

 

This Kenyan sisal basket has been handwoven meticulously by an all women-weaving initiative from rural Kenya. The sisal used to make this basket is sourced from small-scale women sisal farmers from the Machakos region of Kenya. It is then hand-decorticated to create the sisal fibres needed for sisal twine. It is then Hand dyed, sun-dried and handwoven into this unique piece. Every process in the creation of this basket is 100% handmade

 

 

 

3.  Simba Sparks Hand Beaded Rustic Dog Collar

 

Our beadwork is done by an all-women beading initiative from the Maasai traditional community in Kenya. Our admiration of our women beading artisans stems from their ability to balance modern and traditional life where the younger women are now encouraged to learn and embrace their tradition of cultural beadwork as a form of identity and expression even as they pursue modern goals.

 

4.  Copper Livu Tote Bag

 

This Kenyan sisal basket has been handwoven meticulously by an all-women-weaving initiative from rural Kenya. The sisal used to make this basket is sourced from small-scale women sisal farmers from the Machakos region of Kenya. It is then hand-decorticated to create the sisal fibres needed for sisal twine. It is then Hand dyed, sun-dried and handwoven into this unique piece. Every process in the creation of this basket is 100% handmade

 

5.  Green African Glass Powder Beads

 

These powder glass beads are made from 100% recycled glass by Artisans from Ghana, West Africa. Powder glass beads are made from finely ground glass shards recovered from unusable glass scraps such as broken windows, bottles, and plates reheated to create the glass beads. Our glass beads, full of character, are designed for the Home decor enthusiast.

 

6.  Jara print African Mudcloth Fabric

 

Mudcloth, also known as “Bogolanfini” In the Bambara language, has its place of origin in Mali, West Africa, where it was worn by hunters for ritual protection and to show status.

Handmade by artisans from Mali, strips of thin, plain cotton fabric are woven into squares that are then Hand-stitched together. The cotton cloth is hand-dyed using tea leaves and branches, and then sun-dried. The vibrant designs on the cloth are created by painting with fermented mud or sludge. The mud is collected from riverbeds and fermented for over a year in a clay jar.

 

7.  Monochrome Hand Carved Kenyan Soapstone Paper Weights

 

Soapstone carving is one of the oldest traditional industries among the Abagusii tribe of Western Kenya. It is one of the greatest contributors to the economic development of this region.

 

Kenyan Soapstone, a tactile metamorphic rock that resembles marble remains Indigenous to Kenya in its unique form of processing which transforms into rustic, functional elements or aesthetic-driven collectibles

 

8.  Monochrome Hand Carved Kenyan Soapstone Elephant Bowl

 

Soapstone carving is one of the oldest traditional industries among the Abagusii tribe of Western Kenya. It is one of the greatest contributors to the economic development of this region.

 

Kenyan Soapstone, a tactile metamorphic rock that resembles marble remains Indigenous to Kenya in its unique form of processing which transforms into rustic, functional elements or aesthetic-driven collectibles

 

9.  Jungle Green Hand Beaded Maasai Canvas Planter

 

Our beadwork is done by an all-women beading initiative from the Maasai traditional community in Kenya. Our admiration of our women beading artisans stems from their ability to balance modern and traditional life where the younger women are now encouraged to learn and embrace their tradition of cultural beadwork as a form of identity and expression even as they pursue modern goals. 

 

10.  Hand Carved Kenyan Soapstone Cat Figurine

 

Soapstone carving is one of the oldest traditional industries among the Abagusii tribe of Western Kenya. It is one of the greatest contributors to the economic development of this region.

Kenyan Soapstone, a tactile metamorphic rock that resembles marble remains Indigenous to Kenya in its unique form of processing which transforms into rustic, functional elements or aesthetic-driven collectibles

 

11.  Manjano Bucket Bag

 

This Kenyan sisal basket has been handwoven meticulously by an all-women-weaving initiative from rural Kenya. The sisal used to make this basket is sourced from small-scale women sisal farmers from the Machakos region of Kenya. It is then hand-decorticated to create the sisal fibres needed for sisal twine. It is then Hand dyed, sun-dried and handwoven into this unique piece. Every process in the creation of this basket is 100% handmade

 

12.  Hand Carved Kenyan Soapstone Flower Frogs

 

Soapstone carving is one of the oldest traditional industries among the Abagusii tribe of Western Kenya. It is one of the greatest contributors to the economic development of this region.

Kenyan Soapstone, a tactile metamorphic rock that resembles marble remains Indigenous to Kenya in its unique form of processing which transforms into rustic, functional elements or aesthetic-driven collectibles

 

13.  Hand Carved Kenyan Soapstone Bowl with zebra miniatures

 

Soapstone carving is one of the oldest traditional industries among the Abagusii tribe of Western Kenya. It is one of the greatest contributors to the economic development of this region.

Kenyan Soapstone, a tactile metamorphic rock that resembles marble remains Indigenous to Kenya in its unique form of processing which transforms into rustic, functional elements or aesthetic-driven collectibles

 

 

 

Get some ideas on How to incorporate African Craftsmanship into your Everyday Living:

 

Get an African-inspired Home  Décor Upgrade   African Mudcloth Fabric

Shopping Basket alternatives  That rival The conventional Tote Bag

Ideas on  Flower Arrangements  that involve Kenya Soapstone Flower Frogs

 

 

 

  • #AiriHandmade
  • #Uniquegifts
  • #Africanmade

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