Ghana & Canada, Baba Tree, Basketry

The Baba Tree Basket Co. has been preserving the culture of baskets and the Gurunsi community in Bolgatanga for the last 15 years. It’s in this region of Ghana that the Baba Tree community of over 250 artisans practice a time-honoured weaving technique using elephant grass and their very own 'rhythm and flow'. Each basket comes directly from the hands of the artisan weavers–full of energy, colour, and purpose. Each basket, with the unique differences that are part of hand-making, carries the signature of the weaver who has expertly woven it. 

Founder Gregory MacCarthy started weaving stories with baskets a few years after he first step foot in Bolgatanga in 2004. His original desire to celebrate the creativity and excellence of this exquisitely woven community has never felt more significant. The Baba Tree continues this ongoing commitment to the artisan weavers and the many incredibly talented crew members they work alongside through fair and meaningful work, capacity building and true social impact in the local community.

Baba Tree Baskets honours local basket making traditions and succeeds at creating new and exciting forms using the oldest craft in the world. New patterns, techniques, and dye materials emerge over time as Baba Tree artisans continue to innovate, evolve, and better understand the elephant grass they so exquisitely weave by hand. Baba Tree baskets are never rushed to market, but slowly developed to be useful, beautiful, and ethical. 

To follow the story of Baba Tree, find them on social media here.