Grade 5 Art And Craft Indigeneous Kenyan Craft β Weaving Notes
Art & Craft β Indigenous Kenyan Craft
Subtopic: Weaving
Weaving is the art of joining long thin materials into strong mats, baskets, hats and bags. In Kenya, people have woven things for a long time using local materials like:
- Sisal (from plants in coastal and dry areas) πΏ
- Palm leaves (coast) π΄
- Papyrus (around Lake Victoria) πͺ΅
- Banana fibres (western Kenya) π
- Reeds and grasses (many parts of Kenya)
- Reused plastic strips (modern craft, very common in markets)
Baskets, mats (for sleeping or sitting), hats, fans, decorative wall hangings, shopping bags and even chair seats.
Words to know
- Warp β the long threads or strips that stay straight.
- Weft β the material that goes over and under the warp.
- Loom β a frame used to hold warps tight (small handheld frames are used by children).
- Basketry β making baskets by weaving.
Simple weaving pattern (over - under)
Try this with strips of paper: put 4 vertical strips (warp) and weave 4 horizontal strips (weft) by passing them over one vertical and under the next.
Easy activity: Make a paper basket (30 minutes)
- Cut 6 strips of paper about 3 cm wide and one long strip for the rim. (You can use old magazine pages.)
- Place 3 strips vertically as warps. Weave 3 horizontal strips as wefts using over-under.
- Push the weave into a square, fold the ends up to form sides, and tuck remaining ends inside.
- Glue or tape a rim strip around the top to finish the basket.
- Decorate with markers, beads or coloured strips β and try using plastic strips for a stronger basket.
Always ask an elder or craft person for permission to learn cultural designs. Use scissors with an adult nearby and be careful with sharp edges.
Where to see Kenyan weaving
You can see woven goods at local markets, village craft shops, and places like Nairobiβs craft markets. Many Kenyan communities keep their own weaving styles and colourful patterns.