A note from Jen — Ghana wavy baskets stopped me in my tracks the first time i saw them: wiggly, unstructured, unlike any basket I had followed before. My first shipment arrived shriveled like giant raisins, and I was told to shower with them to bring the shape back. I did! Woven by a cooperative that builds clean-water wells in its weaving villages.
Ĥu hajim — thank you, from the Wounaan · ❤️ Jen at RFB Woven Art
RFB sources these XL sculptural forms through a Bolgatanga weaving enterprise accredited by Fair for Life and For Life that works with more than 5,000 women weavers across 13 villages in northern Ghana. Weavers receive 90% of their earnings upfront, and a portion of every sale is reinvested in their villages: four boreholes built so far for clean drinking water, plus ongoing support for school fees. Handwoven from elephant grass, woven into wave shapes while the grass is still moist or left with hairy texture, these are statement pieces, not shopping baskets. Every RFB purchase supports that work.
Standard Bolga baskets are widely available at $30–80 elsewhere. These are a different category entirely, custom-scaled for interior use as floor sculpture. Each piece is hand-harvested, split by hand, naturally dyed, coiled over days of sustained work, and finished with a razor blade trim that alone takes a full day.
Commonly Asked
Oversized, architecturally bold woven forms from Bolgatanga in Ghana's Upper East Region. Wavy silhouettes, hairy textures, and XL floor pieces designed as statement art. They come from the same weavers as the familiar Bolga market tote, but at a custom scale the export market rarely sees.
Elephant grass, also called Napier grass, known to Bolgatanga weavers as kinkahe. Each straw is split by hand, twisted to strengthen the fiber, and dyed with natural plant pigments before weaving. The grass is harvested so the roots stay in the soil and regrow the next season.
Wavy forms are woven into wave shapes while the grass is still moist. The curves lock in as it dries, no mold, no template. Hairy baskets leave the grass ends untrimmed and proud of the surface, catching light differently through the day. Both are formed entirely by hand.
The Frafra people of Bolgatanga. Farming is only viable April through July, so for the rest of the year weaving is the primary household income. I source through African Straw Enterprises, accredited by Fair for Life and For Life. Weavers receive 90% of their earnings upfront, and a portion of every sale is reinvested in their villages, including four boreholes built so far for clean drinking water.
A medium piece takes several days. An XL sculptural floor basket takes a week or more from grass preparation through finishing, and the final razor-blade trim alone takes a full day. One wrong cut can damage a week of weaving.
No. Every piece is one of one. Once it sells, it is gone. I never restock because no two baskets are identical.
Dust with a soft, dry cloth and keep out of direct sunlight and moisture to protect the natural dyes. Elephant grass is naturally strong, so these pieces hold their shape well over time.
Orders ship within 1 to 3 business days with free shipping in the continental US. Returns are accepted within 14 days of delivery in original condition.