Blog

"A single bracelet does not jingle."- Congolese proverbThe team at Mbare is a microcosm of the wider world: We’re diverse, and often surprising. We span three continents.   Robbie, our found … read more

My enduring love affair with antiques began with a basket, so it’s fitting that I’ve landed here at Mbare. Four or so decades ago, I drove from my home in D.C. to interview for a job in Baltimore.&nbs … read more

When Elaine Belleza, who led a creative industry program for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), sent our founder Robbie Stewart over a decade ago to Senegal to identi … read more

There are many words to describe David Ballam’s photographs, but “timid” isn’t one of them. Try a different “t” word: “Trust.” The level of confidence between subject and photographer is pal … read more

Ancient oral tradition holds that the people of Malawi descended from the sun. When they landed on earth, they continued to harness the powerful sun energy that to this day animates their kind spirits … read more