Handcrafted Round Dried Calabash Gourd Wall Art of Earth 'Human Universe' Item ID: 2677063618

I'm the second of six children and I live in Northern Ghana, known for shea butter and basketry. Unfortunately, one of my siblings has passed away.

Growing up, I was known for my artistic nature as I made use of odds and ends to create something unique. Here I am today, still soaring higher and higher!

It was my love for beads that led me to begin crafting jewelry. My skills are self-taught, perhaps a God-given talent. But I had to practice continuously for hours to perfect this art.

Life hasn't been easy for me at all. After junior high school, I had to stay home for seven years before attending senior high school, due to financial constraints. But I'm grateful to God, because a good Samaritan decided to pay my senior high school fees.

During those seven years I spent at home, I decided to do something with my life. That's when I discovered that I can make jewelry. I started crafting necklaces, bracelets and earrings from pieces of calabash gourd shell. My friends loved my designs, so I stopped giving my jewelry out as gifts and started selling it instead.

I use natural materials like calabash, wood beads, and shea butter, which are easy to work with and readily available on the market. I like to think outside the box. I draw inspiration from nature and find the process of getting a piece into its finished stage the most challenging aspect of my craft. Sometimes, my cousin Lumasha helps me string the beads.

Finding a marketplace for my designs is another challenge, but I hope you will help me realize my dreams, which are to one day earn enough to open my own shop, further my education, and support my family.