Aluminum Brass and Wood Decorative Box from Ghana 'Secret Patterns' Item ID: 2671806483

"When I was very young, my parents divorced and I had to go stay with my grandmother. My school fees and feeding were a challenge. Things became unbearable so I started doing manual jobs to support my dear grandmother.

"It was actually this struggle in life as a young boy trying to survive that got me in interested in woodwork. I discovered I have a real passion for it.

"I'm Habib Mustapha. I was born in 1975 in Accra. My friends say I'm a humble, funny and gentle man. I get my inspiration from nature.

"No one taught me the craft. I personally believe these skills were God-given. I mastered my art by constant practice and I learned all the steps myself.

"Redwood, aluminum, brass and acrylic paint are my materials. They are easy to work with and I can buy them all in the market. They are not recycled, reclaimed or reused.

"What I like best about the craft is designing. It takes so much time to finish an item and this is what I find most challenging. I do all the work by myself.

"I wasn't easy starting on my own but, because I'm noted for doing quality work, I had a lot of people bringing orders to me. I became a full-time craftsman and my finances changed entirely. I feel very proud to have made the decision.

"My hope for the future is to make enough money to send my children through the university and also open shops for them to continue our family craft tradition."