Kariokor Shoe cottage industry
A new industry is emerging in Kenya albeit unexpectedly. What started out as a craft industry is now taking new heights. 
In the 70′s, 80′s and 90′s open leather shoes made in Kenya were special treats you bought as a souvenior. Then came the “akala” i.e shoe made of tyres usually worn by the maasai. This was an everlasting shoe worn in rural ares never taken seriously until about year 2000 when some young men from eastlands part of Nairobi started funkidizing them! That caught the attention of youth and in a short while they were being exported as environmentally friendly shoes. Meanwhile the shoe industry was being controlled by ‘Bata’ an international outfit and a few imported shoes from India,pakistan and Europe. However in the 2000′s Ethiopia began exporting through Eastliegh(little Mogadishu in Nairobi) their leather shoes. This upped the game in closed shoes with Bata going high end. That ‘Akala’shoe had set a spark in Kenyans imagination and shortly someone started imitating Bata’s popular ‘Safari Boot’ closed shoes. In a short while Bata took Legal action because of loss of local Market – Bata had sold their shoe at a premium,while the cottage industry sold as common mans shoe, therefore low priced(pocket friendly). But by this time the cottage industry had discovered a mass market and were unstoppable, they quickly tapped into Bata’sschool designs which even had a bigger market! More market, more employment, more money (never give a Kenyan a chance to put in a toe). These same Kenyans soon started looking back at the Akalla success, and the Kenyan Curio market which they soon realised had a clientel known as women who loved open shoes. Creativity that brought the Akalla to the market was applied to the open souvenier leather shoes and the rest is History. Today Bata is copying designs from that cottage industry which seems to evolve weekly and expand too as production is sectionalised and people specialize in different sections of the shoe production. Prices are coming down and so is the indstry expanding with exploration of different manufacture materials. Watch out for shoes from Kenya, born and breed at Kariokor cottage industry – Kenyas new home to low end leather shoes for Africans! ps:Image shoesa shopper (possibly) wholeseller buyer shopping at Kariokor.
Varying designs of Swahili mask
Swahili masks are masks that represent the rich swahili cultural communities that exist along the East African coast. Made from ‘Mfulu’ tree (softwood)from Tanzania coast. Designs and names are copyright of Muoki Kioko/Atiue Agencies
Leather smart phone wallets
Contact eastafricacrafts@gmail.com for trade or branding for your company.
Text & Images
©Muoki Kioko 2009-2012
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Kenyan Leather Sandles
ankle laced leather sandles
ankle laced leather sandles
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leather sandles (maasai)
leather sandles (maasai)
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Contact: +254 720922510 or +254 722277025
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©Muoki Kioko 2009-2012
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African Furniture
woven veranda chairs
wooden veranda chair
White log Table
Black Rusty Table
White Logs Veranda Chairs
Available from Kenya(East Africa) Tel: +254 733 701107/ +254 724 612811
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©Muoki Kioko 2009-2012
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Boma – African Huts
In Africa huts were traditionally built round in shape. With western influence you now find them square/rectangle, and of stone instead of earthen.
The above are available for purchase on request (see contacts).
Text & Images
©Muoki Kioko 2009-2012
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Basket weavers in Ukambani
To order custom made – colors/designs +254727844815
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©Muoki Kioko 2009-2012
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Original bracelets of East Africa
Bracelets are worn either on the wrist or ankle, but are at times placed on the upper arm about 6″ from the shoulder. This was done primarily by men.
All original bracelets were primarily made from animal by products though occasionaly “modern” materials were used as they became available like beads, buttons, shells and metals.
Items made of animal by products tended to use a significant animal in the communities environment like this adjustable bracelet made of elephant hair. Though originally common in many parts of East Africa where elephants roamed, it has gradually been replaced by commercial ones made of dyed grasses mainly because the international ban on products made from endangered species of which elephants are under category 1. But some are still available from those who kept them as memoir’s, from people who stay in areas of human-wildlife conflict zones especially along elephant migratory routes in coastal zones. When a troublesome animal is put down by authorities locals are allowed to harvest it’s meat with the tail being a source of meat and hairs.
This though is not the only source. The craft industry especially curving fraternity are known to have links with poachers as some are used to curve Ivory and occasionally come in with elephant hairs that are quickly weaved into bracelets at curious stalls.
Elephant bracelets are easy to tell because they feel like plastic. Thinking about it, why haven’t the chinese brought a cheap plastic/synthetic replacement to elephant hair as they are almost same width with fishing lines. Elephant hair is black while fishing lines are white. FOOD FOR THOUGHT!
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©Muoki Kioko 2009-2012
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Office Gifts – Premium crafts
Made of ebony, bone, iron & copper on a camphor stand. Ideal for display on executive office desks or polished Shelves.
Grand Training Opportunities for Exporters by Export Promotion Council(K)
Grand Training Opportunities for Exporters
The Export Promotion Council in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will be implementing Phase II of the JICA/EPC Trade Training Programme for SME Exporters starting November 2010. The training in this phase has been structured to address the export knowledge and skills requirements for the various levels of small and medium enterprise exporters.
Beginners Course Content (5 days module):
| Basics of marketing Defining business ideas Developing a marketing plan Getting and retaining customers Quality and production control Packaging and Labelling Conducting a business audit |
Exploiting Internet and ICT for business Export logistics and documentation The roles of banks and forwarding agencies Export financing Export payment and settlement methods Risk management and insurance Export incentive |
Dates and Venues:
| Town | Venue | Date |
| Nairobi | Sarova Panafric Hotel | 3rd -5th and 11th -12th Nov 2010 |
| Malindi | Eden Roc Hotel | 10th -12th and 18th -19th Nov 2010 |
| Nakuru | Merica Hotel | 22nd -24th and 29th -30th Nov 2010 |
Anticipated Benefits:
Potential and new SME exporters; Trade Support Institutions and Trade Associations involved in international trade; and Consulting firms involved in providing export trade advisory/ consultancy services to SMEs. Knowledge acquired at this level will be an important prerequisite for the Intermediate course to be delivered later in the programme. Previous participants of trade training under Phase I of the programme need not attend.
Anticipated Benefits:
Understanding how to select, penetrate and retain export markets
A deeper understanding on pricing and quality control requirements for export
Appreciation of the importance of appropriate packaging, labelling and branding in exporting
Understanding of international commercial terms of trade (Incoterms), the export process and documentation in order to minimize risks inherent in international trade.….Read More
Did you purchase an artifact or craft item?
Sit down, what size is it? how do you want it shaped? 10minutes later this chap was asking me not to waste his time as he had done his work.
Original Dance rattle
Well, thats how skilled the Akamba(Kenya) and Makonde(Tanzania) communities are at crafts. Virtually almost anything out there can be made in minutes and is BIG multi million business in for the region.
Major exporters from region travel to southern Tanzanian forests where they create camps for one or two weeks with the Makonde people, have their craft made, then export.
In Kenya, most of so called Congolese artifacts either originate from these southern Tanzania camps or are made at the back of a market in Nairobi known as Gikomba.
Three legged stool
To age the “artifacts” simply dip in acids and rub in ash smoother ing the edges.
So does that mean there are no real artifacts? There are, but few and youd be lucky to get as collectors are constantly searching the markets for them.
How do you tell one? pick a wood item used over time, look at wear on edges and shine and then search for similar characteristics in artifact. The other way is you will actually know, these items are normally used for rituals and have an energy around them you cant miss out.
Caution: as i found out – it may be good to ask yourself if you are really ready to tap into those energies. (http://eastafricacrafts.wordpress.com)
muoki
