Heritage Craft Skill of Basketry in Kenya
Basketry in Kenya is one of the country’s oldest and most widespread craft traditions, with roots stretching back centuries. Across the nation, more than a dozen communities including the Kamba, Kikuyu, Luo, Maasai, Taita, Somali, Luhya, and Pokot, each community developing its own distinctive weaving techniques, motifs, and styles.
Traditionally woven by women, baskets were not only utilitarian but also served important symbolic and ceremonial roles across different communities. The art of basket weaving has traditionally been a generational skill, passed from mothers and grandmothers to their daughters.
Before the introduction of sisal in Kenya, local artisans worked with a wide array of natural fibers readily available in each communities' immediate environment. The arrival and large-scale cultivation of sisal in the early 20th century marked a turning point. Its durability, strength, and versatility quickly made it the preferred fiber, not just for traditional use but also for trade and commercial basketry. Today, sisal remains the most widely used weaving fiber in Kenya, sustaining rural economies while carrying forward heritage practices.
In recent years, innovative alternatives have emerged. Banana fiber, for instance, has been reintroduced into the craft by initiatives such as Tujikuze. Extracted from the pseudostems of harvested plants, it is biodegradable, abundant, and transforms agricultural waste into a valuable material. Its soft yet sturdy texture makes it ideal for weaving, while also promoting sustainable, circular production models.
Over the years, basketry has evolved into a vital source of livelihood for artisans in rural communities. The sale of woven products ranging from functional storage baskets to fashion-forward accessories, provides women artisans with income that supports families, education, and community development.
In Kasigau community, Taita Taveta County, Tujikuze collaborates closely with local women artisans to strengthen and refine their weaving practices through continuous training and skills development. These workshops are co-created with the artisans, combining generational knowledge with contemporary techniques and materials to expand creative possibilities and strengthen their capacity to fulfill orders reliably and at scale.
Most recently, Tujikuze worked with the women weavers of Kasigau Community in Taita Taveta County of Kenya to craft banana fiber baskets for the luxury brand Hands of Fashion, first Made in Kenya capsule collection.
As the global fashion industry shifts toward sustainability, heritage crafts like basketry are gaining renewed relevance. Kenyan basketry, with its deep cultural roots and use of natural, renewable fibers, is uniquely positioned to meet this demand.
Tujikuze is at the forefront of this transformation by constantly exploring innovative materials like banana fiber, strengthening artisan capacity, and collaborating with designers and brands who value heritage craft.
Tujikuze supports a collective journey toward innovation, sustainability, and shared success in the heritage craft skill of basketry.
Tujikuze is supported by Ethical Fashion Initative (EFI) and Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS)