IWA EXCHANGE
Meet the Artisans
Explore our partners across the African continent and learn about their story.
Maryanne Msuyian
Maryanne Msuyian is 26 years old. She was married at the age of 16. She has 2 girls. Her husband has two wives and a together they have 9 children. Maryanne’s husband keeps cattle for their livelihood and she makes jewelry, which together they help feed and provide for their family. Maryanne was married off when she was in class 3 which meant droping off school. Her husband was choosen for her, which is the norm for the Maasai culture.
Hellen Koitatoi
Hellen Koitatoi is 36 years old. She got married at 33 and has 6 children, 5 girls and 1 boy. Her husband has two wives and all together they have 15 children. Her husband sells gas and Hellen makes jewelry which she sells within their local markets. Mary studied upto class 8. The challenges that they face include: Drunkedness of the men which leads to them not being able to provide for their families. Lack of proper information on how to do business and earn a living makes them suffer as they are not able to provide even the basic needs for their families.
Mary Wuantet
Mary Wuantet is 28 years old. She is married and has 2 children; one boy and one girl. Mary got married at the age of 15. Mary’s husband is the Community Learning Centre Manager at Kisapuk and she is a nursery school teacher, a business woman, a Community Health Volunteer. Mary also makes jewelry to supplement her income. Mary got married after class 8 when she was 15 years old but later on enrolled for high school classes. Some of the challenge she went through include: getting married off at young age without her consent, but because her parents needed the money to support her siblings, she had to agree with it. Going back to school was not an easy task for her and the society didn’t support her as they thought going back to school would make her leave her husband and get married to someone else, but her husband has really been supportive and this helped her finish high school. This partnership is a Dream Come True for us since for the longest time we didn’t have a proper market but now we can sell our jewelry internationally and for that we are truly grateful.
Mary Lumpepe
Mary Lumpepe is 55 years old. She got married at the age of 22. They are three wives in his household. Mary has 6 boys and 2 girls. They have 25 children altogether. Mary’s husband keeps cattle while she sells vegetables and jewelry. Mary has never been to school. Some of the challenges that they face as women include taking care of children when they are very young and with no knowledge of taking care and providing for their families. The drought situation has made life difficult as they are not able to better provide for their families and there is a lot of hunger. This partnership has created an international market and for that we are very grateful.
Sarah Kompe
Sarah Kompe is 55 years old. She got married at the age 22. Her husband has 8 wives and she is the 7th wife. They all together have 31 children. Mary’s husband passed on and now they have to provide for their children on their own. She sells shukas, cooking oil from cow’s milk and also makes jewelry. Mary never went to school. Drought and lack of a source of income makes it difficult for them to provide for their families. This partnership is a BIG success for the maasai women in Kisapuk.
Eunice Sayole Kiragu
Eunice Sayole Kiragu is 40 years old. She was married at 20 years of age; she has 5 children; Three boys and two girls. Eunice’s husband passed away a while and she is therefore the only breadwinner at home. She rares cattle and makes jewelry to earn her income. Eunice never went to school. Some of the challenge she went through include: - Lacking money to pay fees , buy clothing and food for her children - Herding cattle in forest with children aged 2 months - When she or her children fall sick she is forced to look for herbal medicine since she can’t afford hospital cost This partnership is really good for her as it has opened market for her products, she is really grateful.
Timaloi Solonka
Timaloi Solonka is 68 years old. She got married at 26 years of age. She has 7 children, 3 girls and 4 boys. Her husband has passed away and before he had married 2 other wives. The other wives have 8 children. She sells Paraffin, sugar and makes Jewellery for a living. She has faced challenges of buying food and clothing for her family. The partnership with worldvision has enable her get water through borehole drilled by worldvision and market for her jewellery
Kisinyinye Mtutua
Kisinyinye Mtutua is 39 years old. She got married at the age of 22 years. She has 10 children, 9 boys and 1 girl. Her husband has two other wives who both have 13 children. He is a farmer who plants Maize and beans, he also keeps cattle to help raise food for the family. She sells paraffin and makes Jewellery to supplement family income. She left school at the level of Nursery. Some of the challenges she has faced include: Too many children to be able to provide food for them Neglect by her husband She can’t afford to build a house, buy clothing and start business She is happy that world vision has come to their rescue; the organization has made her see opportunities to make more income.
Hasan
Hasan is a 35-year-old artisan who chose to follow in his father’s footsteps. Although he received a formal education, he felt deeply connected to his family’s craft and decided to build his own career as an artisan. Today, Hasan is proudly self-employed, using the skills and traditions passed down by his father to create handcrafted pieces and preserve his family’s artistic heritage.
Neema
Neema is a 36-year-old artisan with a passion for traditional craftsmanship. Inspired by her love of handmade art, she worked hard to develop her skills and establish her own shop. Today, she proudly manages the business, where she creates and sells handcrafted pieces while building an independent career through her artistry.
Rachel
Rachel is a 57-year-old artisan who discovered her passion for craftsmanship as a child, when she began creating small handmade items. After completing primary school, she continued developing her artistic skills and eventually turned her craft into a source of income. Through years of dedication and hard work, Rachel has used her artistry to support and raise her children.
Ashura
Ashura is a 54-year-old artisan who learned her craft during a difficult period in her life. Determined to provide for her children, she developed her skills and successfully turned her creativity into a livelihood. Today, her craftsmanship remains an important source of income that allows her to support her family and build a more secure future for her children.
Abigail
Abigail is a 52-year-old artisan who began her career selling clothes. When the business struggled and she could no longer reliably provide for her children, she became determined to find a new livelihood. Abigail learned how to create handcrafted goods and gradually transformed her new skills into a successful business. Today, her craftsmanship enables her to earn an income, support her family, and build a more secure future for her children.
Jackline
Jackline is a 35-year-old artisan who enjoys meeting and speaking with people from different countries. Motivated by this interest, she learned to create handcrafted goods that attract international visitors. She now sells her work at the Maasai Market, a popular destination for visitors seeking locally made crafts. Through her business, Jackline has fulfilled her goal of earning an income while sharing her creativity and connecting with people from around the world.
Amino
Amina is a 40-year-old Maasai artisan who learned traditional craftsmanship at a young age. Over the years, she developed these skills into a livelihood. Today, her handcrafted work provides an important source of income, enabling her to support her family while preserving and sharing Maasai artistic traditions.
Agape
Agape is a 63-year-old Maasai artisan who learned traditional craftsmanship at a young age. For many years, she dreamed of having the opportunity to sell her work at the Maasai Market. After achieving this goal, her craft became an important source of income and a way for her to share Maasai artistic traditions with others.
Esther
Esther is a 29-year-old Maasai artisan who takes great pride in her craft and cultural heritage. One of her greatest wishes was to meet and speak with people from different countries. Through her work as an artisan, Esther can now share Maasai craftsmanship and culture with visitors from around the world.
Goodluck
Goodluck is a 34-year-old artisan who dreamed of sharing his creative talent with the public and earning an income from his work. By opening his own shop, he transformed his passion for craftsmanship into a career. Today, Goodluck is proud and happy to showcase his handmade creations and share his talent with others.
Yao Simplice
Yao Simplice is a ceramic artisan in Grand-Bassam with more than 40 years of experience. He learned the craft from his parents and also studied ceramics formally. His clay creations carry forward the skills and traditions he inherited while sharing Ivorian culture with visitors.
Aman Mado
Aman Mado creates decorative objects in Grand-Bassam and has more than 30 years of experience. Her work includes handcrafted coconut-shell cups and clay figures dressed in traditional fabrics. Through her craft, she supports her three children and contributes to the city’s artisanal heritage.
Le Vieux Karim
Le Vieux Karim is an artisan in Grand-Bassam with more than 40 years of experience. He works with copper and bronze to create handmade bracelets. His craft supports his family of five children and continues the metalworking traditions he has practiced for decades.
Konaté Amidou
Konaté Amidou is an artisan in Grand-Bassam with 35 years of experience. He makes necklaces from natural materials, including clay beads, wood, seeds, shells, and leather. His craftsmanship provides an income for his family and helps keep local jewelry-making traditions alive.
Coulibaly Oumar
Coulibaly Oumar makes traditional hats and handmade bracelets in Grand-Bassam. With 25 years of experience, he works with materials such as raffia, straw, shells, wood, and beads. His pieces reflect the local skills and cultural traditions he has developed throughout his career.
Taki Ahmed
Taki Ahmed is a batik artisan in Grand-Bassam with 30 years of experience. He uses traditional wax-resist dyeing techniques to create patterned fabrics. His work supports his two children while preserving the skills behind this distinctive textile craft.
Mrs. Coulibaly
Mrs. Coulibaly is a potter from Katiola who learned her craft from her parents. She has practiced pottery for 20 years, creating clay objects using skills passed down through her family. Her work is her household’s main source of income and helps support her two children.
Coulibaly Michelle
Coulibaly Michelle is a potter from Katiola with 15 years of experience. She learned the craft from her parents and makes traditional clay vessels, including canaris used to store and cool water. Pottery provides her family’s main income and supports her two children.
Coulibaly Karidja
Coulibaly Karidja leads the women potters of Katiola and has 40 years of experience in the craft. Alongside making pottery, she helps organize, support, and promote the work of other women in her community. She shares her knowledge with younger generations to sustain Katiola’s pottery traditions.
Diarrassouba Marian
Diarrassouba Marian is a traditional potter from Boundiali with more than 20 years of experience. She learned her craft from her parents, who passed on their pottery techniques and knowledge. Her handmade clay objects continue this family tradition and reflect the craftsmanship of her community.
Bamba Karidja
Bamba Karidja is a potter from Odienné with 30 years of experience. She learned traditional pottery techniques from her family and continues to make clay objects by hand. The craft is her main source of income and helps her support her five children.
Konaté Sita
Konaté Sita is a potter from Odienné who has practiced her family’s craft for 20 years. She makes traditional clay vessels using techniques passed down through generations. Pottery is her main source of income, enabling her to care for her two children.
Konaté Massoug
Konaté Massoug is a potter from Odienné with 20 years of experience. She inherited her pottery skills from her family and makes traditional clay objects by hand. Her craft provides her main income and helps her support her child while continuing a local family tradition.
Konaté Saratou
Konaté Saratou is a potter from Odienné with 25 years of experience. She learned the craft from her family and creates handmade clay objects using traditional techniques. Pottery provides her main source of income and supports her three children.
Tanoh Koffi Ivan
Tanoh Koffi Ivan is a student and young weaver from Bouaké. He began learning the craft from his elders at the age of six and has four years of experience. Weaving helps him meet his schooling expenses while he continues his education and develops his skills.
Diby Yao Lucien
Diby Yao Lucien is a traditional weaver from Bouaké. He learned weaving techniques from his elders and continues to practice the craft today. His work carries forward the textile skills and knowledge passed down within his community.
Goudou Marcel
Goudou Marcel leads the weavers of Bouaké and has 30 years of experience in the craft. He uses his weaving skills to provide for his family, including his four children. Through his work and leadership, he helps sustain the city’s traditional textile craftsmanship.
Zou Elvis
Zou Elvis is a student and traditional weaver from Bouaké with six years of experience. He learned weaving from his elders and practices the techniques they passed on to him. His craft helps support his schooling while allowing him to continue developing his skills.
Koffi George
Koffi George is a young student learning traditional weaving in Bouaké. With two years of experience, he is developing skills taught by his elders. Alongside his education, his weaving helps meet school expenses and connects him with his community’s textile traditions.
Koffi Kouakou
Koffi Kouakou is a student and young weaver from Bouaké with four years of experience. He learned the craft from his elders, who shared their techniques and knowledge with him. Weaving helps him meet schooling expenses while he continues his education.
Koffi Constant
Koffi Constant is a young student learning traditional weaving in Bouaké. He has two years of experience practicing techniques passed down by his elders. His craft helps with school expenses while he continues his studies and develops his weaving skills.
Konan Koffi
Konan Koffi is a young student and weaver from Bouaké with two years of experience. He learned traditional weaving techniques from his elders. Alongside his schooling, he practices the craft to help meet educational expenses and carry forward his community’s textile knowledge.
Mariam Coulibaly
Mariam Coulibaly leads a group of women textile artisans in Waraniéné, near Korhogo. She has 20 years of experience and took over the family business from her parents. Her work supports her four children and continues the textile knowledge passed down within her family.
Coulibaly Natogamant
Coulibaly Natogamant makes decorative calabashes and handcrafted baskets in the Korhogo region. She learned the craft from her parents at 13 and has 19 years of experience. Her work combines family techniques with her own skills while helping her support her three children.
Coulibaly Mamadou
Coulibaly Mamadou is a weaver from Waraniéné, near Korhogo, with 15 years of experience. His parents taught him the techniques and knowledge behind this traditional craft. As a single father, he earns his livelihood through weaving and uses his work to support his child.
Ida Abou
Ida Abou is a textile artisan in Waraniéné with 15 years of experience. He inherited his craft from his parents, who passed on their weaving skills and traditions. His work provides an income for his family and carries forward the village’s textile craftsmanship.
Coulibaly Konaté
Coulibaly Konaté is a weaver from Waraniéné, near Korhogo, with 15 years of experience. His parents taught him the techniques behind the craft. He earns his livelihood through weaving while continuing the skills and traditions he inherited from his family.
Konaté Brahima
Konaté Brahima is a secondary school student and bead maker from Kapélé with five years of experience. He practices his craft on weekends and other days away from school. Making and selling handmade beads helps him meet personal needs while he continues his education.
Coulibaly Ibrahim
Coulibaly Ibrahim is a tailor who specializes in clothing made from traditional handmade fabrics. With 15 years of experience, he carries on textile skills inherited from his parents. His tailoring supports his two children and gives handwoven cloth new forms through clothing.
Konaté Saliou
Konaté Saliou is a Senufo beadwork and jewelry artisan in Kapélé with 30 years of experience. He creates handmade jewelry and bead ornaments using traditional skills. His craft supports his four children and shares the cultural heritage of his community.
Dembélé Bakary
Dembélé Bakary is a secondary school student and potter with 10 years of experience. He learned the craft from his parents and makes decorative pots using traditional techniques. Alongside his education, he continues to develop the artistic skills and knowledge passed down through his family.
Ao Simplice
Ao Simplice is a jewelry artisan in Grand-Bassam with 30 years of experience. He makes necklaces from natural materials such as cowrie shells, seashells, wood, seeds, and clay beads. His handmade jewelry reflects the craftsmanship and cultural traditions he has developed throughout his career.
Ali Kouassi
Ali Kouassi is an artisan based in Grand-Bassam. In his interview, he describes having worked there for many years and expresses his hope that Iwa Exchange can help bring his products to the American market. He welcomes the opportunity to share his work with new buyers.
Koné Fatoumata
Koné Fatoumata is a student and potter from Odienné with five years of experience. She practices pottery during school holidays, using her craft to help support her education. She hopes Iwa Exchange can introduce her handmade clay work to buyers in the American market.
Weaver from Bouaké
This artisan practices traditional handweaving in Bouaké, working with yarn on a wooden loom. His work forms part of the city’s long-established textile tradition.
Potter from Odienné
This potter from Odienné shapes and decorates clay vessels by hand. In her interview, she welcomes Iwa Exchange’s support in bringing her work to buyers in the American market.