In the misty highlands, the rhythmic sound of weaving fills the air as women gather to transform sisal fibers and grasses into intricate baskets. These artisans are part of cooperatives like Imigongo Art Center, where traditional craftsmanship isn’t just preserving culture—it’s saving gorillas. For generations, basket weaving has been a communal practice, but today, it’s also a lifeline. By selling their agaseke (peace baskets) to eco-tourists and international retailers, these women earn incomes that reduce their families’ dependence on forest resources.
The impact is profound. over 80% cooperative members report using their earnings to send children to school, breaking cycles of poverty that once pushed communities toward illegal logging. Conservation groups partner with these cooperatives, offering design workshops that incorporate gorilla motifs, subtly educating buyers about endangered wildlife. “When tourists take our baskets home, they carry our story with them,” says Mukamana, a master weaver. The baskets—dyed with natural pigments from plants grown in community gardens—symbolize a sustainable future where culture and conservation thrive together.
How to Support: Purchase baskets through fair-trade partners like Rwandan Basket Company or donate materials to weaving collectives.
