Designs key to success of basket weaving industry - ATAG

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• Kunta Kunteh 10 years ago

  Very very sad commentary. Just look at the photograph there and see who is teaching who? The baskets in the picture are styles and designs which the weavers have producing for the past 15 years.
  It is not Indians who have tr ...
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  Very very sad commentary. Just look at the photograph there and see who is teaching who? The baskets in the picture are styles and designs which the weavers have producing for the past 15 years.
  It is not Indians who have trained these weavers how to weave,or new designs or dyes.
  
  These weavers who are mostly illiterates have been able to use some few days to learn how to draw complicated designs? The person who is giving this information is either misleading the public for personal reasons or completely ignorant of what it actually takes to weave a basket and probably does not even
  know the weavers.
  The person who gave out this information is creating the impression that the baskets are used locally and with the Indian purported training will make the basket exportable. The Bolga basket has been an exportable product over 30 years and competed favourable with other baskets from China, Kenya etc. The attempt by the Vietenamese to imitate was not enough to push off the international market. Bolga basket has outlived the famous Kenyan bag. It is this secrecy that the Indians are interested in and very soon, with the help of ATAG and other collaborators, we will see the bolga basket being produced in India and exported. The interest of ATAG and the others' would have been served.
  Those who are purported to be training is the National Institute of Design, and that is Indian National Institute of Design. So do we sincerely think the India government will set up an institute to go round the world to teach other artisans designs? Why? Because we are poor? Are we poorer than the Indian rural artisans? Greed is sending this country of ours to an 'abyss'.
  
  Why will the Indians come to Ghana and stay in Accra and send a few weavers to Accra and then ask these 25 weavers to send the said products to their colleagues up North? Why did the Indians not go up North to meet a larger group of the weavers?
  Posterity will be the ultimate judge. Meanwhile, those who care about Ghana should take time and look critically what ATAG is doing to the Bolga basket industry before it is too late and after the collaborators have enjoy their booty from the Indians at the expense of the North.

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• MENSAH. 10 years ago

  I would like to know,if the weavers(BOLGA) can USE,INCORPORATE SEAT BELT,into their artwork designs?
  I can supply the scrap from USA & CANADA.They come baled.
  Quantity - 50,000 lbs.40' cntr.
  2 containers/month.
  ...
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  I would like to know,if the weavers(BOLGA) can USE,INCORPORATE SEAT BELT,into their artwork designs?
  I can supply the scrap from USA & CANADA.They come baled.
  Quantity - 50,000 lbs.40' cntr.
  2 containers/month.
  They are 4,5" in width and from 3 - 30 yards,in length.
  Colours are assorted.
  MY TEL#: 1-647-343-0901.
  CANADA.
  MENSAH.

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• Ghanababa 10 years ago

  Designs? OMG the leaders are still ignorant! Watch out if you are an artisan! join Myliveevents on facebook and watch out!
  Follow these people and you are doomed! he has no clue but heads the association. Bridget if you ar ...
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  Designs? OMG the leaders are still ignorant! Watch out if you are an artisan! join Myliveevents on facebook and watch out!
  Follow these people and you are doomed! he has no clue but heads the association. Bridget if you are reading, connect and see what is the key. i agree with you that technology is the key but not design. When you buy any basket or any other art material, ask yourself....... what else can i use this for? trying to answer this will help!

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• MENSAH. 10 years ago

  I strongly object that GHANAIAN WEAVERS,go and participate in what these INDIA CROOKS are suggesting.
  They want to steal the technology,techniques,know-how our weavers have nurtured since time immemorial.
  India is as poor a ...
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  I strongly object that GHANAIAN WEAVERS,go and participate in what these INDIA CROOKS are suggesting.
  They want to steal the technology,techniques,know-how our weavers have nurtured since time immemorial.
  India is as poor as any other poor nation,and are also crooks.
  DON'T TRUST ANY INDIAN,THINKING THEY ARE THERE FOR YOU.
  We live with thousands of them in TORONTO.THEY ARE NEVER RELIABLE.
  I will advice Ghanaian weavers to dissociate with them,in that respect.

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