Medium Woven Bowl by Ange Muhorakeye – Brown & Blue

Measures 10″ wide x 2.5″ tall

Born in a refugee camp in Burundi and later moving back to her family’s country of origin, Rwanda she continued to learn the art of basket weaving from both her nyogokuru (grandmother) and mama (mother). Five years ago, Ange made the decision to leave Rwanda and move to the Maine in the United States. At the airport in Rwanda, Ange’s mother passed to her a package of grasses with a needle and thread, and sent her off with the parting words of “Do not forget our culture.”

When Ange realized that there was interest in her baskets in the US, she began to think that perhaps she could collaborate with women from rural communities in Rwanda, offering them the ability to support themselves and their children’s education by commissioning them for growing and dying these materials.

“I create baskets made of sisal plants and sweet grass using a needle. I design each piece with gentleness, skill, and love to achieve special and unique creations. I use half of the sales proceeds to support women and their children from my country to sustain themselves and fight poverty.”