There is an art called weaving and there are the beautiful women who weave.

Armed with the desire to learn and improve an age-old art, these ladies (and let's not forget those few men!) gather together and teach one another, learn new designs and work on quality control. Mama Afrika brings you some photos of their gatherings.

Members of the Mukono Progressive Womens Group after selling their baskets.

The ladies in these photos are from the Masindi region of northern Uganda. They are members of a large cooperative which serves as an umbrella organization for women who are always paid in full for their work.

Often, companies are billed and producers aren't paid until the following billing cycle... sometimes 3 months later. But Mama Afrika always pays in full and before the items are shipped to her!

When Mama places orders with the cooperatives, she allows them the time they need to work their magic. That is why the quality can't be beat.

There are always details to be considered such as the season and any projects that the cooperative may be working on. Respect is a key component of fair trade.

Here, one of the members of the cooperative is getting started on a sorghum basket. Sorghum is a grain which is commonly eaten in Eastern Africa. It is known in some countries for its benefits in balancing blood sugar levels and is often eaten toasted by the handful. As you can see, it also makes a great fiber for weaving.

Click here to enlarge map