Crafts of the Giriama
Discover the traditional crafts, beautiful ornaments, and jewelry of the Giriama community
Giriama (1996) by Leonard KateeteNational Museums of Kenya
Meet the Giriama
The Giriama are the largest sub-group of the Mijikenda community. They inhabit the area of Mariakani and Kaloleni in Kilifi county.
NecklaceNational Museums of Kenya
Craftsmanship
Amongst the Giriama people were skilled craftsmen, who produced useful iron implements that were used by the community. They also produced beautiful aluminium ornaments like chains, necklaces, earrings and bangles, which were sometimes worn as charms.
BraceletsNational Museums of Kenya
Jewelry
These are heavy aluminium bracelets made in two pieces, which are joined by putting a stick through the holes in them. On the inside they are rounded, but on the outside they have three deep grooves running around them.
They were made by a blacksmith from melted down aluminium cooking pots. The melted aluminium was poured into a long groove in the ground, and then hammered and scraped into shape with a knife. Women wore them on their wrists, with the larger ones worn above the elbow.
NecklaceNational Museums of Kenya
This necklace was made of white, blue and orange trade beads strung onto thread, with plastic spacers. It would have been made and worn by women.
Waist BeltNational Museums of Kenya
This beaded waist belt was made from white, yellow, black and red barrel beads, threaded onto makonge (sisal) thread. It was fastened with an aluminium clasp, with incised decoration, made from old cooking pots by a craftsman near Tezo.
OrnamentNational Museums of Kenya
Ornaments
This large aluminium ornament has been inlaid with copper in the center, and decorated with a punched decoration in the form of a cobweb. Made by a blacksmith, the aluminium was melted down from cooking pots (sufurias) and then hammered into shape
Bed MatNational Museums of Kenya
Weaving
This finely woven mat (kitseka), was made by a male craftsman. A long strip of doum palm (miaa/mlala) was sewn together with sisal fibre (makonge) to make such a mat. These mats served as beds and seats.
Food bowlNational Museums of Kenya
Wooden bowls
This wooden, flat-bottomed food bowl (muvure) was made by a young man using mwaamba wood. The wood was cut using an axe and made hollow with an adze. It was used as a communal eating bowl by as many as seven people.
Winnowing basketNational Museums of Kenya
Basket making
This basket was made from palm leaves by men, and used mainly by women as a tray and for winnowing.
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