The African Bag: Kiondo

The twined basket from Kenya, known as the Kenyan basket, or as the kiondo, is usually made either from sisal, Agave sisalana, or a combination of sisal and wool or acrylic yarn. Sometimes one sees rather loosely twined baskets of banana fibers. Traditional gems of twined Kamba baskets are made from baobab fibers. These wonderful fibers are not only extremely strong, but soften and turn silky with age. It is the sisal twined basket, however, that has evolved to a greater extent, and that is what I will cover.
Traditionally, the sisal fibers are worked either dyed or not. The traditional red brown (upper row and tassels) is dyed from Ficus thonningii, the sacred tree or (ki)muumo in Kamba. The brown dye (lower rows) is from Euclea racemosa, or mukinyei in Kamba. Fibers are also dyed black with ash. All dying is done in clay or aluminum pots. The traditional basket is quite large, around 15 inches deep and 15 inches wide, with three plaited ropes hanging from where the carrying rope is attached.

The basket is traditionally started with 3 thicker warp threads or spokes and one finer weaver or weft, which immediately is twined around the warp, forming the center of the basket. Additional warp threads are added on the inside of the basket by inserting another thread, bent in half. This new thread is then anchored well by twining stitches and two warp threads are created.

A basic twining stitch is used throughout the basket with some variation in two-color twining to create vertical, diagonal and horizontal rows. Color blocks are often created by twining a “hill” in one color in a selected spot of the basket. An alternate color is then twined over the hill and around the basket. The irregularity created in the basket height is then countered by adding another “hill” in the dips, farther up the basket. The final basket has a smooth top edge. In Kitui, a variation of the soumak technique was introduced, about 15 years ago by a local artist, Geraldine Roberts to create a flat bottomed basket. By working alternately with the two weft threads, a single soumak row is woven. One weft thread circles only every even warp thread, the other weft circles only the odd warp threads. This soumak row allows for a distinct bend in the warp threads. The result is a distinctly flat bottomed basket with vertical sides. This variation on the traditional twined basket is quite common in the beaded and dyed baskets.

A great shopping bag in eco-friendly sisal. In this way, you support african women who weave parttime or fulltime to meet her ends. It provide a stable income for vulnerable groups especially women in low income groups. We provide free training and materials in product design, production techniques in handicrafts including jewelry, soapstone, sculpture.

The bags then gets a final finishing touch of leather.Gorgeous hand woven sisal bags are , dyed to perfection. and others left natural. Leather shoulder straps were used and reassure durability.

Kambas make up about 11 percent of Kenya's total population. They speak the Kamba (or Kikamba) language.
Kamba people have special skills in woodcarving and basketry. They are also involved in other activities such as hunting, farming and pastoralism.

History of the Kamba Tribe

Kambas were involved in the long distance trade during the pre-colonial period. In the mid-eighteenth century, a large number of Akamba pastoral groups moved eastwards towards the Tsavo and Kibwezi areas along the coast. This migration was the result of extensive drought and a lack of pasture for their cattle. The Kambas settled in the Mariakani, Kisauni and Kinango areas of the coast of Kenya, creating the beginnings of urban settlement. They still reside in large numbers in these towns, and have become absorbed into the cultural, economic and political life of the modern-day Coast Province.

Culture & Lifestyle

In Kamba culture, the family is central to the life of the community. Before marriage, a man must pay a bride price (known as dowry), made in the form of cattle, sheep and goats, to the family of the bride. In a rural Kamba community, the man, who becomes the head of the family, undertakes an economic activity such as trading, hunting or cattle herding. He is known as Nau, Tata or Asa. The woman works on the land she is given when she joins her husband's household. She supplies the bulk of the food consumed by her family. She grows maize, millet, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, beans, pigeon peas, greens, arrowroot and cassava. Traditionally, it is the mother's role to raise the children.
Very little distinction is made between an individual's own children and the children of their sister or brother. Children address their uncle or aunt as tata (father) or mwaitu (mother). They often move from one household to another with ease, and are made to feel at home by their parents' siblings. Grandparents (Susu and Umau) help with the less strenuous chores around the home, such as rope making, tanning leather, cleaning calabashes and making arrows. Older women continue to work the land as their source of food, independence and economic security.

Naming is an important aspect of the Kamba culture. Traditionally, Akamba children were named after a time or events surrounding their birth. Children are often affectionately called Musumbi (King), and Mueni (visitor). Nduku is a common name given to a baby girl born at night while Mutuku is given to a baby boy born at night. Children can also be named after a living or departed relative, depending on the parents' relationship with the person.
The Kamba tribe is renowned for their exceptional woodcarving and basketry skills. Their unique sculptures and weaved sisal baskets are sold in many curio shops, gift shops and art galleries in Kenya's major cities and abroad. The men do the carving while Kamba women weave and decorate the fine work in baskets and pottery.
Kambas are also very active in the country's politics. Several notable leaders, politicians, and businessmen, as well as professional men and women, are direct descendants of these humble pastoralists. The current vice-president of Kenya, Honorable Kalonzo Musyoka, is a Kamba.

Religion

Many Kamba people are Christians; however, some still practice the old traditional beliefs. The Akamba people believe in a monotheistic, invisible and transcendental god, Ngai or Mulungu, who lives in the sky (yayayani). This god is also referred to as Asa or the Father. He is perceived as the omnipotent creator of life on earth and as a merciful, if distant, entity.

Music

The Akamba people's love of music and dance is evident in their impressive performances throughout their daily lives and during special occasions. In these dances, the Akamba display agility and athletic skill as they perform acrobatics and remarkable body movements. Dances are usually accompanied by songs composed for the occasion (marriage, birth, national holiday) and reflect the traditional structure of the Kikamba song, sung on a pentatonic scale. The singing is lively and melodic. Songs are composed satirizing deviant behavior, anti-social activity or love. The Akamba also have famous work songs, such as Ngulu Mwalala, sung while they are digging. Herdsmen and boys have different songs, as do the young and old.

Kamba Food

Kambas are farmers and their staple food is isyo also known as "githeri"githeri", maize(corn) mixed with beans or peas - as these can be dried, stored and eaten during the frequent droughts. Corn is also ground to make ugali, a popular Kenyan food. During the rainy seasons and along the riverbeds, Kambas grow fruits and vegetables such as cabbage, collards, bananas, mangoes, oranges and other tropical edibles. Goat meat, chicken and beef are also popular food choices among the Kamba people.

prepared by:   
Grace Mukuha
C.E.O
Summer Fresh Produce Supplies
Nairobi, Kenya