Ananse Village: African Crafts and Textiles

Africa is a continent rich in artistic expression. From the beautiful Ilala palm baskets made by members of the Zulu tribe in South Africa, traditional tonga basket from Zambia, the percussive traditions of the djembe, brekete , ashiko, djun-djun, balaphone, kpanolgo, atsimevu and don-don drums of West Africa, to the magnificent kente cloth, bologanfini (mudcloth), kuba cloth and batik textiles of the continent, the cultural heritage of Africa is expressed.

We are proud to offer the finest traditional African crafts produced in a fair trade environment. By working directly with village artisans we are able to positively affect the economic development in the most needy areas. Ananse Village is dedicated to supporting small scale production by talented craftspeople. A portion of our profits helps provide medical care and educational opportunities to the communities we work with.

We at Culture Den are dedicated to providing quality art and instruments at affordable prices, while bringing opportunity to enhance a better life for African communities.

Through our love and respect of African cultures, we have come to realize how important it is to bring the cultures of Africa and other nations together. Sharing the beauty and ethnicity of hand made products, while building a bridge of unity.

We believe in fair trade for all people. We do our best to make sure that all artists are paid well for their hard work, while providing Thank you! Culture Den

Bridge for Africa- Online Store

BRIDGE FOR AFRICA IS...

The idea for BRIDGE FOR AFRICA was born in 2003 when a Zimbabwean and an American met in South Africa and exchanged ideas from the two continents. This exchange sparked the idea that establishing a partnership between Africa and the U.S could be a winning combination to promote the dignity of work and self-sufficiency in Africa. Our director on the ground in Africa began to search for underprivileged artisan communities, establishing relationships with the various groups, and communicating ideas and product samples to the U.S. BRIDGE FOR AFRICA’s U.S branch focuses on marketing, distribution, education and channeling feedback on product development to Africa. Through this partnership, BRIDGE FOR AFRICA has realized the incredible potential for marking a difference in African artisan communities, by harnessing the outstanding artistic talent of African artisans to create marketable products for sale in the U.S.

At BRIDGE FOR AFRICA, our U.S and African partners collaborate in Building Resources to Inspire Dignity, Growth, and Empowerment. We currently work with artisans in Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Zambia, Rwanda and Uganda to design, produce, and market high quality handmade products. The proceeds from the sales of these products benefit the artisans and their communities, with at least 50% of the product price paid to the artisans groups, and the remainder of the proceeds reinvested in community development, job creation, and training initiatives.