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.

Despite the global appeal, evident when one of Jobe's designs was featured on the show "Selling Sunset," Senegal faces infrastructure challenges in competing with major exporters. Meanwhile, local vendors like Fatim Ndoye struggle with low domestic prices, underscoring the economic precarity faced by many. For artisans like Adama Fall, Imadi's fair pay is a lifeline, especially as some villagers resort to perilous sea journeys due to economic insecurity.