Dotted on the rolling hills of Northern KwaZulu Natal, there exists a beehive of industry, where numerous Zulu women work at the art of Basket weaving. With the advent of the men moving off to seek work in the cities, the women have taken over what was once a dying craft, and turned it into an art form of world renown, and a major source of income for many families. They work in their homes, where they can incorporate basket making into their normal routine, enabling them to continue to live their tradition life-styles.

Every basket is made by hand, using indigenous raw materials. The fronds of the Ilala Palm (Hyphaene Coriacea) are commonly used to weave the fine, watertight baskets, and dyes of vegetable origin (i.e. Roots, berries, bark, leaves) to colour the palm. It can take up to one month to produce a medium-sized basket that will be unique in size, shape and pattern.

Following in the footsteps of their mothers and grandmothers, young Zulu girls are taught to weave, and by the time they reach their teens, they are fully conversant in the age-old art of Zulu Basket weaving, and many are even able to help put themselves through school with the proceeds from their work.

Today, Ilala Weavers helps over 2,000 Zulu people, some men and mostly women, to attain self-sufficiency, by working from their homes and therefore retaining their lifestyle and rich heritage of basket weaving and bead work, which has been passed down through the generations by Zulu Crafters.

Support Ilala Weavers by buying their products in our store.