Kiki Weavers is a group of women in Kenya who live in a village called Soweto East in Kibera, the largest informal settlement in Sub-Saharan Africa. We are mothers who strive to build our own business, to be self-sufficient, to stop depending on others, to provide a good environment for ourselves and our children, and to obtain education or knowledge.
The idea for basket weaving started with training and work space provided by the Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) group, a non-profit organization. Kiki mothers were trained by local Kibera artisan Joyce; she taught us on how to create the baskets. These baskets are made of water hyacinth, a weed that we harvest ourselves from a dam in the slum.
The process of harvesting hyacinth is a little difficult, requiring us to hire a boat from the people near the dam, who also harvest the water hyacinth to make manure. They also help us to get the water hyacinth near the shores using the boat.
After the water hyacinth is harvested it is dried at our community site for two days and treated with a kind of chemical called sodium hydrogen carbonate.
We treat the water hyacinth to prevent them from being eaten by weavels and to make it strong and durable. After the treatment the material is prepared for basket making. We start by twisting the water hyacinth to make string. You then use this string to complete a basket. Sisal is another string we mix with the water hyacinth to create variations in the design. After doing the finishing around the top, the baskets are ready for sale.
A small basket takes two days to complete by a new basket weaver but for an experienced weaver it will take only one day.
For more pictures and information about our group, check out our website and facebook page:
Website: www.kounkuey.org
Facebook Page: Search for Kounkuey Design Initiative
About us:
MARY:
Hello, my name is Mary. I'm 30 years old, am married and have 3 boys. I love to play football (soccer) and of course, weave.
JANE:
Hello, my name is Jane. I have 8 children and enjoy gardening and taking care of my children.
Ruth:
Hello, my name is Ruth. I have 9 children and enjoy weaving because it helps me provide for my family.
Colleta:
Hello, my name is Mueni. I am a single mother with one child, a boy. In my free time I love to sing.
Anne:
Hello, my name is Anne. I am a married woman and a mother of one boy (with another on the way). I like making baskets because it allows me to help my family and pay school fees for my child. In my free time, I like to play netball. I would also like to say that you are most welcome to visit us in Kenya.
Jackie:
Hello, my name is Jackie. I am a married woman with many children, all girls. i enjoy weaving because it is relaxing and it allows me to give my children a good education and life. In my free time, I like to play football (soccer).
Jesca:
Hello, my name is Jesca. I am 32 years old and have 5 children. When I am not weaving, I like to dance.
