Where are Senegalese-style baskets traditionally made?

Senegalese-style baskets are traditionally made in a constellation of Wolof villages in the northwest region of Senegal.

Why do Senegalese basket weavers struggle to profit?

Weavers receive very low prices domestically, while knockoffs from countries like Vietnam undercut authentic products abroad, and large markups benefit middlemen.

How is Imadi helping Senegalese basket weavers?

Imadi, founded by Fatima Jobe, works with over 260 women, providing fair wages, banning child labor, and using profits to support village schools.

Home / Business and Economy / Senegal Baskets: Weavers Struggle, Imitators Thrive

Senegal Baskets: Weavers Struggle, Imitators Thrive

4 Dec

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Summary

Senegalese weavers receive low prices while exports fetch high costs abroad.
Knockoff baskets made in Vietnam undermine authentic Senegalese craft.
An architect's initiative supports over 260 women weavers with fair pay.

Senegal Baskets: Weavers Struggle, Imitators Thrive

In Senegal's northwest, women like Khady Sene practice the generational art of weaving coiled reed baskets adorned with colorful plastic strips. While these artisanal creations are highly sought after internationally, reaching markets in the United States and France, the weavers receive only a fraction of the profits. Competing with mass-produced knockoffs from Vietnam, authentic handmade Senegalese baskets often have astronomical markups that do not benefit the artisans.

Fatima Jobe, a Gambian-Senegalese architect, discovered Vietnamese manufacturers exporting Senegalese-style baskets and was inspired to act. Recognizing the talent of weavers in numerous Senegalese villages, Jobe founded Imadi, a Dakar-based shop. Imadi collaborates with over 260 women, including Khady Sene, across 15 villages, implementing a higher pay structure and reinvesting profits into community schools. This initiative provides a crucial lifeline, ensuring fair compensation for the weavers' labor.