Handcrafted Sese Wood and Aluminum Wall Mask from Ghana 'Elephant Glory' Item ID: 2677064009

“Handmade crafts have been my passion since I was a youngster. It was very challenging for me to turn that into business. It wasn't easy until I joined Novica in 2005. Marketing was a huge problem for most artisans in Ghana, but everything changed when I signed up to join Novica. My quality kept on improving so I could meet the standards of Novica's customers, and to be honest, I have seen a great change in my financial life.

“The challenge I also use to face is to keep up with the same products. Replenishing the same pieces became a bit of a problem because I wasn't financially able to keep my raw materials in stock. But Novica found me a solution by offering me an interest-free loan, and now I can always keep products available.

“I started working at home but now I have a shop in the central part of the country where I hire people to work with and also train them. My scale of production changes all the time, and I don't have a consistent income. Sometimes I get more and sometimes I get less, but all the same I can see a great change. I have been able to financially support my kids' education. I now have a university graduate, one university student and also a primary school graduate.

“My goal now is to get more to market and try to attain a constant growing income. I want to tell all Novica customers that I appreciate their love all these years in helping me reach my goals.”

Original Artist Story

"My name is Joseph Boateng, and I was born in the Ashanti region on September 23, 1966. I had my primary education in a Roman Catholic school from 1972 to 1978, and received my middle school education from 1978 to 1982.

"My sister then brought me to a town where I had a friend who knows a lot about carving. He then took me to another village where I learn this trade. Later, I moved to a city where now I train 14 people. I am married, with three children.

"I have always dreamed of promoting Ghana's rich culture to the outside world through well designed artifacts. I specialize in a wide range of wood carving styles, such as Ashanti stools, coffee tables, masks, fertility dolls and bookends.

"I began exhibiting my work in 2002."