"For the last 20 plus years Mbare has been empowering over 2,000 artisans all over Africa by engaging in fair trade and sustainable partnerships. We have spent decades finding and nurturing relationships with the best artisans in each country, from urban workshops [and] cooperatives to remote rural villages. Our ties to our artisans run deep; they are our partners in this labor of love we call Mbare. We believe in preserving the traditional skills that get passed from one generation to the next and that handmade items carry the energy, soul and story of the maker.  We believe this adds value to all our lives and supports the abundance and prosperity we all deserve."

Artists: Mkankha Brothers - Zimbabwe 

   "The Improved Arts Metal Sculptors Project" was formed by five brothers, the Mukankha brothers, in 1986. Thanks to their artistic talents and this project they are able to provide for their families, which is something they themselves did not have growing up.

   Shaping tin with snips, pliers and hammers they create delightful c reatures from discarded metal. Some of the pieces are then individually hand painted with colorful designs by artists from Zimbabwe's Weya community, making it a unique work of art. Some of the brothers have passed away, and the two surviving brothers, Norman and Moses, now mentor two teams of younger relatives in their craft.

1. Antelope Mask Wall Hanging - Artists: Mkankha Brothers

   African masks should be seen as part of a ceremonial costume, and animals are common subjects. Animal masks connect people with the spirit world that traditional African beliefs say inhabit the forests and open savannas. An animal is also a symbol of specific virtues. In African mythology, the antelope symbolizes vivacity, velocity, beauty and visual sharpness.

 

2. Springbok Mask Wall Hanging - Artists: Mkankha Brothers

   Known for its extreme speed and high leaping abilities, the springbok's name literally means spring (as in 'jump'') antelope. Our unique springbok animal mask is handmade from recycled car tin by artisans in Zimbabwe. 

Contemporary rustic metal art looks great in any space and is both eco-friendly and full of personality.

3. Recycled Wildebeest Metal Animal Wall Mask - Artists: Mkankha Brothers

   The wildebeest, also known as a gnu, is an antelope that lives on the  grassy plains and open woodlands of Africa. Their massive annual migration is considered one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth, involving up to 1.5 million wildebeests as well as hundreds of thousands of other animals, including zebra and gazelle. Handmade from recycled car metal by artisans in Zimbabwe, it's both eco-friendly and full of personality. 

Artists - Birdwoods Cooperative - Zimbabwe

 

   The artists at Birdwoods believe that everything has a story.  "For almost everything we have here, we've met or know the person who created it.  We are not interested in mass produced and manufactured or replicated work - we love things that are authentic, individual, quirky and honest. Things that have their own character and history. We love the 'waste not, want not' nature of so much of the craft work and art that comes out of Africa.  After all, waste is not a luxury they can afford, and products that make use of old things in new ways more often than not have greater charm and intrinsic value."

4. Cattle Egret Walking - Artists: Birdwoods Cooperative

   This elegant cattle egret is on the move, wading through shallow waters looking for its next meal.  Hand crafted from recycled 40 gallon oil drums in Zimbabwe, it's a wonderful example of creating beauty from waste - something African artists do uniquely well. This metal bird sculpture is an unforgettable feature in any yard.

Company: Swahili Modern - Burkina Faso and 

   Zimbabwe

   Swahili Modern extends an artisan's channel of trade from local markets to the global marketplace, all the while providing artisans with options to work from the comfort of their own homes and communities. Secure in the knowledge that the fair payment they receive will not be reduced by traveling expenses, childcare costs and haggled prices, most artisans in the Swahili network promote their family's future by using earnings to put food on the table and pay educational expenses for their children.

1. Tall Photographer: Burkina Faso - Anonymous Artist

   Artisans in Burkina Faso create whimsical photographer sculptures from recycled metal automobile and bicycle parts. These fun sculptures bounce erratically in the wind and are a great addition to the yard or garden. 

2. Shorter Photographer: Burkina Faso - Anonymous Artist

   A bit smaller whimsical photographer sculpture made from recycled metal automobile and bicycle parts. Position it under or beside a plant either indoors or outside and it becomes a "birder" or safari explorer.

Artists - Tonderai Metal Works - Zimbabwe

   (Excerpt from the Swahili blog "Zimbabwe on the Brain")

   "Trucking around the countryside... we met stone sculptors, metal workers and recycled art visionaries...that revealed a wide and varied world of skilled artisans challenged by their political climate yet undaunted in their need to create and provide for their families..."    Artisans at the Tonderai Metal Works in Zimbabwe use recycled materials and discarded oil drums to create stunning works of art. All sculptures are welded by hand and feature one-of-a-kind detailing.

3. Oil Drum Giraffe - Tonderai Metal Works

  This colorful giraffe, crafted from red, yellow, white and blue oil drums, will brighten any space you choose! Each recycled metal sculpture is finished with varnish to protect against the elements, although weathering is to be expected if exposed over time. 

 

4. Oil Drum Hippo - Tonderai Metal Works

   At Tonderai Metal Works in Zimbabwe, metal sculptors transform used oil drums into a wide variety of animals including this cute little hippo. 

5. Recycled Metal Penguin - Artist Kalvin 

   In Zimbabwe, an artist named Kalvin transforms recycled scrap metal into irresistible animal sculptures including this penguin.

6. Metal "Mama" - Kenya - Anonymous Artist

   With arms reaching out to embrace the entire world, this highly unusual "Mama" sculpture was welded from recycled metal, nuts and bolts. Her extended arms can also be used to hold many bracelets, necklaces or small hanging items. 

 

   It's fascinating to see how artists in numerous countries are upcycling similar materials that are discarded and readily  available to create wonderful folk art.