live from
the field

Asungtaaba Basket Group Sharing Fund

Women self-organize into work and support groups at the community level throughout northern Ghana and, indeed, in many other areas of the world. These groups fulfill important social, economic and community functions and have evolved a way or working, organizing and collaborating over generations. Unfortunately, they are too often ‘improved’ by well-meaning outsiders and formal structures and procedures put in… [read more]

Steps in making Baraka Bolga Baskets

Traditional, handwoven Baraka Bolga Baskets are made with skills and techniques passed down through generations. Mothers and Aunts teach daughters and then they weave and work together. In this video, Ahmed, the local coordinator, describes some of the steps as the women are weaving. They are working as they normally do, in a group under a shade tree in the… [read more]

Alamgubbe Group Weaving Baskets

Hand weaving Baraka Bolga Baskets is hard, meticulous and demanding work. The women gather together, often under a tree for shade from the searing heat on the edge of the Sahara

Asongo Basket Group Welcome Dance

Meetings, activities and events are traditionally opened with song and dance. It injects energy into whatever is happening and helps get everyone in a joyous and open mind and space.

Field Interview on Sustainable Coconut Farm Management

Live from the Field interview with Kojo Nunoo and the Field Operations Manager for Baraka’s partner, Ava Virgin Coconut Oil.

Coconut plantations, inter-cropping and food security

An interview with the founder of Baraka’s partner, Ava Virgin Coconut Oil discussing intercropping and its contribution to sustainability and food security

Coconut Sustainability: waste to organic planting pots

Baraka and its partner Ava Virgin Coconut take great care to bring as much sustainability, as little waste and as much impact as possible to their work. This video shows how the traditional coconut industry leaves piles of husks in the growing area, taking land away from food, making an eyesore and providing a breeding ground for snakes.

From the Shea Forest: Alfred Akolgo Interview

Live from the Shea Forest interview with Alfred Akolgo, Baraka’s Country Manager. He discusses his work with Baraka, the communities and women Baraka works with and some of his personal and career life.

Tabiasu Women’s Enterprise Centre

A live walkthrough of the Tabiasu Women’s Enterprise Centre with Alfred Akolgo, Baraka’s Country Manager. You can see the women using the facility for the preparation of Shea Nuts (seeds) as we discuss the centre, why we built it, how it will be used and the impact it is already having.

From the Shea Forest: Picking Shea nuts (seeds)

Shot live in the Shea Forest you can see how the women gather the fallen shea fruit and nuts, the first step in making Baraka Shea Butter. See the women in action, watch the young boys climbing shea trees and shaking the fruit off so the women can pick it.

From the Shea Forest – Lilian Mwintoma Interview

Live from the Shea Forest interview with Lilian Mwintoma, Baraka’s Quality Office and Women’s Development Liaison. Lilian discusses her work with Baraka, the communities and women Baraka works with and some of her personal and career life.

Baraka Bolga Baskets in the community

Baraka Bolga Baskets are hand-woven by women’s groups in Ghana’s Upper East region In this video Baraka’s Country Manager, Alfred Akolgo, meets with some of the hard-working women to discuss basket making, life

Baraka TV: Kperisi Naa (Chief) Interview

Kperisi Chief, Naa Alhassan Sidiki Bomsi III initially invited Wayne and Baraka to the community to work with the local women’s group to help them develop additional and alternative income generation opportunities. Wayne engage “Aunty” Amina and the relationship that evolved into Baraka Shea Butter began.

Baraka TV: Alfred Interview

Alfred Akolgo has led Baraka’s Ghana operations since about 2015, working with “Aunty” Amina and recently Mwintoma Lilian as they worked with hard-working women in Ghana’s Upper West Region to produce, package and export Baraka Shea Butter.

From Our Hands: The Baraka Shea Butter Song and Dance

The joy of hand-crafting @Baraka Shea Butter is celebrated in this video as the hard-working women who make it have just created a new song and dance to celebrate their joy. The joy and their celebration are the direct

Shea Tree Regeneration and Conservation

Shea Trees grow wild and regenerate naturally. I’m often asked about how many seeds are left behind to regenerate and grow. Most of them are. Research estimate suggest that at least 85% of the Shea Seeds that fall from Shea Trees are unpicked and available to germinate.

Community Certified Fair Trade Interview

Watch an interview with Zenabu Imoru, a leader of the Kperisi women’s group and the community Chief where they discuss their working relationship with Baraka Shea Butter and the Community Certified Fair-Trade certification they provided. Sub-titled in English.