Ngojea Mgata is an Imarika Kijana graduate, who is now a Lyra community trainer. You can read her story here.
Following taking part in the IK programme, Ngojea started basket weaving to create baskets for use around the home. After realising her skill for weaving, she saw an opportunity to expand basket production, and started gathering interested weavers throughout the community to form a basket weaving cooperative, which they voted to name ‘Ngojea Baskets’.
Ngojea Baskets hand-weave baskets for sale across local craft fairs and pop-up shops, and have recently had a stall at the Arts and Crafts Fair, Iringa. The cooperative now has an impressive 46 women, and 1 man weaving baskets for sale. Each basket comes with a handwritten name of its maker stitched into the basket, each one is as individual as the person who made it.
We are looking at ways to sell these beautiful baskets in the UK, so if you would like to buy one, or think you could help us with shipping and import please get in touch!