Ethnic Supplies: Bringing hope back after the 1994 Rwanda genocide

Sunday 22 February 2009

Bringing hope back after the 1994 Rwanda genocide

Rebuilding the nation of Rwanda was never going to be easy following the atrocities of 1994, especially the economy of that wonderful nation. Women were especially vulnerable due to their lack of property specifically agricultural land.

The nation had to find away to heal itself in order to move forward and for women this literary involved weaving their way towards a secure future. Women all over Rwanda set up weaving circles and began weaving the Agaseke

The Agaseke, is a traditional skillfully designed Rwandan basket woven using sisal, grasses and raffia. Customarily woven by women, the Agaseke basket represents a historic account and is renowned for its impressive quality and associated cultural traditions.

It takes several days for weavers to make each basket and the process is often meticulous and requires invariable attention to detail. It is an exciting venture for many of Rwanda’s women, a time-honored art that can now be used for economic empowerment as they continue to weave for a secure future for themselves and their families.

One of these women's weaving circles is called the AGESEKE Promotion Project and is made up of 3800 women from in and around the capital city Kigali. The project provides training skills to impoverished African women to work their way out of poverty, these skills include, weaving, family planning, literacy and business skills

To date the group produces a range of functional handicrafts that can be applied to a modern context including Earrings, necklaces, bangles, jewellery, table runners, table mats, fruit baskets to mention but a few.

Ethnic Supplies is proud to be able to bring these products to an international audience