Ethnic Home

Our beautiful, hand-carved soapstone candle holder is used to celebrate traditional African values. Artisans carve this from one piece of stone (and yes, as you can imagine, it’s quite heavy!). Each is handmade by our artisan partner: Nyabigena Soapstone Carvers in Kisii, a city in western Kenya near Lake Victoria which is surrounded by soapstone quarries and is well-known both for the quality of its soapstone and the skill of its carvers. Nyamarambe, a small village near Kisii, is the home of the 150 member Nyabigena Carvers Cooperative. This civic-minded cooperative has been providing work for its members while also giving back to its community. The cooperative has sponsored a women's literacy program, HIV/AIDS awareness, a program which supports school dropouts, and has dug two wells which are providing clean water and saving women from making long walks to gather water. A source of great pride for the cooperative is the elementary school which opened in January 2007 and is now educating 71 students, thanks mostly to the proceeds from the sales of soapstone crafts. The candles are not included but each Kwanzaa Kinana measures 9 1/2 in. l x 2 in. w x 6 3/4 in. h.

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