Woven basket by Kare Maramo
A pair of twill woven shorts featuring slanted front pockets, buttoned back pockets, a zip pocket, buttoned waist, and keychain loop.
Discover the allure of the Niger Woven Chest from Dilwana.com! This striking handcrafted piece, woven by African artisans, features intricate patterns that embody the rich heritage of Niger. Perfect for ample storage, bold home decor, or a generous gift, it measures 38x30x30 cm and weighs 1417 grams, offering a robust yet stylish design. By purchasing, you directly support these talented artists—shop now and enrich your space with sustainable African artistry!
Artist: Kare Maramo
Kare was born in Angola in 1966, and fled the civil war to Botswana with her parents when she was two years old. She has five daughters and one son. She was given away in marriage when she was thirteen years old, and had her first child at sixteen. She had three children by her first husband, who used to beat her when he was drunk, so the elders in the village agreed that she could leave him. She now lives with her third husband.
She never went to school, but is doing well at the adult education courses, and has learnt how to read and write. Her mother taught her to weave when she was 12 years old. When she first started to weave, there were only two grades: P for ‘Premium’ and IM for ‘Intermediate’.
Kare worked in the 1990’s as a basket grader. This involves checking the use of colour, the tightness of the weave, the design and the quality of the finish. She says the job was difficult, as some people did not accept the grades she awarded their baskets, and the grading method. This made her unhappy, and she was relieved when she was invited to join the Etsha Weavers Group in 2001.
Kare prefers to collect her own materials, going as far as Nxamasere for the dye-making materials; but she sometimes buys from other people as collecting is time-consuming and can be dangerous.