Handmade Bolga Baskets

Bolga baskets are traditionally woven by women in Ghana, and they are used for carrying goods or items. These baskets are homemade and handwoven baskets made with natural materials like grasses, palm leaves, bamboo strips, and sometimes even dried banana plants. The name “bolga” means “to carry” in the Yoruba language.

The Ghanaian people had been making homemade baskets made from grasses and palm leaves for generations when a couple of British missionaries arrived with new weaving techniques to improve their skills. They could make improvements by using traditional methods and inventing new ways to create the perfect design.

This “basket renaissance” led to the Bolga basket being among the most popular homemade baskets in Ghana. In addition, this led to a new tradition of weaving that is handed down from generation to generation and has become one of Africa’s treasures and an integral part of Ghanaian culture.