Guinea’s rônier weavers maintain ancestral craft
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In Kindia, Guinea, artisans continue a tradition of weaving objects from the branches and leaves of the rônier palm, passing the skills down through families.
These craftspeople create baskets, shelves, and other household items, but face challenges including limited materials, difficult working conditions, and competition from imported products. Aboubacar Kéita, a master artisan, explained that the rônier weaving is both a livelihood and a family inheritance, providing modest income while upholding cultural practices.
The weavers obtain branches by climbing the rônier palms, a dangerous task made more difficult by a lack of equipment like ladders. They welcome the government’s ban on plastic bags, hoping it will increase demand for their natural fiber products, and ask for support to improve their workshop. Another artisan, Mamadou Yero Barry, noted that Chinese merchants once copied their designs and sold mass-produced versions, impacting their sales of certain items.
Despite these obstacles, demand for their woven chicken carriers remains strong, appealing to a wide range of customers. Both Kéita and Barry ask authorities and other supporters to help them secure better working conditions and preserve this traditional skill for future generations.
