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African Collection - Woven basket

Twined, flexible round-bottomed bag, decorated with five black boardered red bands on a natural weave. Donated by E.G. Donkin, 1949.

Such bags were traditionally woven from grass by Chuka women, Bantu-speaking people from the eastern slopes of Mount Kenya, in Kenya, East Africa. This weaving tradition is shared across the Mount Kenya area, with Kikuyu and Akamba women also weaving sisal into kiondo bags, which are used for carrying food or water, or given as gifts for important occasions. Modern versions of the craft became a popular fashion export of Kenya in the 1980s.

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