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Tonga basket front view
Tonga baskets on a bedroom wall
Tonga basket
Tonga basket made in Zimbabwe sticker

Tonga Basket - Extra Large

Sale price$100.00
SKU: ZTB-XL

These beautiful baskets are made in the remote Binga district of Northern Zimbabwe - home to the displaced Tonga people. Today, many Tonga women utilize traditional weaving techniques to create intricately patterned baskets. Tonga baskets are woven using the over and under style of ‘simple’ weaving and a 16 inch diameter basket can take around 2 weeks to complete. The baskets are finished using a coiled rim with a distinctive herringbone pattern.  These baskets are made from all natural and locally harvested materials such as wild grasses, small vines, and palm leaves dyed with tree bark. The largest sized bowls are still used by the Tonga people for their original purpose of winnowing grains.

When you purchase a fairly traded item like this African basket, you receive a beautiful artisan product while helping a family in a developing country raise their standard of living.  Additionally, you are playing an important part in keeping traditional crafts alive. Thank you for your purchase!

Diameter: 22 - 26"
**Patterns vary for each unique basket**
Made in: Zimbabwe

Material

Wild grasses, small vines, and palm leaves

Dimension

See product description

Product Care Instructions

Wipe clean with a dry cloth

Origin

Zimbabwe

Time to make

8 days
Tonga basket front view
Tonga Basket - Extra Large Sale price$100.00

meet the maker

Tonga Basket Weavers of Northern Zimbabwe

📍Binga District, Zimbabwe

" Transforming locally gathered natural fibers into baskets of exceptional beauty and craftsmanship"

In the remote Binga District of northern Zimbabwe, Tonga women create beautifully woven baskets that embody generations of skill, resilience, and cultural heritage. The BaTonga people were displaced from their ancestral lands during the construction of the Kariba Dam in the late 1950s, an event that profoundly impacted communities along both the Zimbabwean and Zambian shores of the Zambezi River. Despite these challenges, Tonga women have preserved and strengthened their weaving traditions, transforming locally gathered natural fibers into baskets of exceptional beauty and craftsmanship.

Each basket is woven entirely by hand using techniques passed down through generations, with larger pieces often taking up to two weeks to complete. Distinctive details, such as the intricate herringbone edge known as "snake’s belly trim," reflect the artistry and symbolism woven into every piece. Traditionally used for winnowing grain and other household tasks, these baskets remain functional tools within the community while also being celebrated around the world for their sculptural forms and timeless design. They stand as enduring expressions of the creativity, resourcefulness, and cultural strength of the Tonga people.