Cultural Artifacts from Tanzanian Artisans.
100% Handmade
Our woodcarvings (vinyago) are 100% handmade from scratch to finish using a single chunk of wood. This wonderful and painstaking work is one way to preserve our ancestral heritage from extinction.
The tree used in our carvings is called Mpingo. Also known as African Blackwood, Mpingo is one of the hardest and rarest woods on Earth and with incredible longevity it can last for centuries in sun and rain without rotting.
You can learn more about Mpingo here: Mpingo Explained.
Our artisan, Mandundu, explains the beautiful cultural meanings behind the different woodcarvings. This tradition holds ancient roots that we are proud to share with you.
We are proud of our culture and we are taking back ownership over our work. Exploitation has set the industry behind but we are coming back with a bang! Enjoy our store!
Makonde Family Tree - Spiral
Oneness, Unity and Community. This piece is all about working together and winning as a group. It takes about 3-4 different artisans to complete one of these as each one handles a different stage of the work. The culture among artisans at Mwenge, Da-es-Salaam (where the carvings are made) is as communal as their work appears.
Various sizes of this piece are available.
Maasai Family
Our Maasai Family collection comes in vibrant hues of red. The man, a warrior, wears his locks while his wife stands with a shaved head in classic Maasai tradition. Maasai Family is a very popular piece and the art style used will surely evoke the Afrikan spirit of family, order and intimacy.
Makonde Family Tree
The original Makonde Family, in all its splendor. We currently have sizes ranging from 1 to 4 feet tall, but some of the pieces stocked in our location at Mwenge can touch the ceiling! You can always order a more ambitious piece of any height by contacting us on our contact page if you would like to make that Big Order.
Why shop with us? Help fight exploitative business practices.
For decades Tanzanian artisans have been forced to undersell their art to locally-situated foreign businessmen with more access to tourist customers in the country. We are here to change that by making sure 40-50% of profits goes back to them. Learn more about this situation from our artisan, Mandundu, in the video below.
Enter our Shop to see More.
100% Handmade. Fair-trade. Black-Owned and Operated. For the culture, for posterity, for the Afrikan Renaissance which is our Destiny.