Travel Africa

Page 19

HandWoven Art

Ghana’s

“City of Baskets” By Paula Froelich

S

ome of the world’s most beautiful, intricate baskets are made in northwestern Ghana, not far from the Burkina Faso border. Here, over hundreds of years, the Gurunsi people have perfected the art of twisting and entwining the tough elephant grass that grtows in the marshes and streams. The Baba Tree Basket Co., based in the town of Bolgatanga, brings the work to an international stage. Founded by Canadian-born Gregory MacCarthy, who has spent most of the past 20 years in Ghana, the impact-focused company commissions baskets from a cooperative of more than 250 artists at fair-trade prices, and provides training for students interested in learning the technique. When a basket if sold online, the weaver receives an additional portion of the sale, up to 15% - providing a living wge while supporting the region’s cultural heritage. The durable market hampers know as Bolga baskets are perhaps the most recognizable Gurunsi products. But it’s in the “art baskets” section of the website that you’ll find the real masterpieces. Made using the proprietary Pakirigo Wave method - a technique of creating undulating waves that takes years to master - each one can occupy a weaver for up to six weeks. No two are quite the same. As a personal touch, all of the weavers pose beside their work for the photos that appear on the website Baskets may be viewed and purchased from the website at www.babatree. com and, of course, in person when visitng the town of Bolgatanga. www.travelandleisure.com (November 2021)

Image credits: pinterest, babatree.com, attitude-mag.com 19 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | Nov 2021


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Events Around the African Continent and the World

3min
pages 86-88

Golf Africa

4min
pages 78-82

African Cuisine! Republic of Zambia

7min
pages 83-85

Ski Africa

4min
pages 76-77

Travel Africa

5min
pages 70-75

WORLD HERITAGE SITES

1min
pages 68-69

This Black Tech Company Invented Wireless Headphones that Translate Any Language

2min
page 65

Ghanaian Artist Creates Haunting Sculptures of Slaves in Accra Lake

2min
pages 60-61

Into the Wild

5min
pages 62-64

2021 Travel + Leisure Annual World’s Best Awards - Focus on Africa

2min
pages 50-51

New Book: Safari Style, Exceptional African Camps and Lodges

7min
pages 52-55

Africa’s Iconic Architecture in 12 Buildings

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pages 46-49

For the First Time, a Team of All-Black

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pages 44-45

Osun Osogbo Festival: The Annual Nigerian Event That Honors the Osun Goddess

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pages 36-37

Women Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and They’re all Over

4min
pages 40-42

From a Hotel Housekeeper in the US to Owning a Luxury Hotel in Dakar, Senegal

3min
pages 34-35

Rob and Melani Walton Foundation Commits $100m to Wildlife Conservation

2min
pages 26-27

Amazing Ancient Forests Around the World Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar

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pages 31-33

Kenya Has a Beautiful Geothermal Spa and it Should be on Your Bucket List

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pages 22-23

5 Things to Look for in a Sustainable Hotel

6min
pages 28-30

National African Museum Reframes History of Slavery in Angola

2min
pages 24-25

Goings-on in Ghana

3min
pages 20-21

Ghana’s “City of Baskets”

1min
page 19

United Airlines Expands Routes to 40 Destinations in Southern Africa

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page 13

South African Airways Operates First Flight Since Resurrection

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page 9

Black-Owned App ‘Melanin On The Map’ Now Has a ‘Travel Bae and Bestie’ Feature

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page 15

You’ll Soon be Able to Use Your iPhone for Your ID at Airport Security

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page 6

Radisson Hotel Group set to Double its West and Central Africa Portfolio by 2025

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pages 10-12

‘Living Abroad in Tanzania, I Felt Peace

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pages 16-18

Zimbabwe Floods Victoria Falls With Vaccines to Help Tourism

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page 7

British Airways Announces Codeshare with Kenya Airways

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page 14
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