Sokofa Shop
Discover artisan-made bags, jewelry, footwear, and everyday accessories designed to complement African fashion.
187 items
Fashion Accessories
A five piece Maasai beaded set in red, with white sawtooth points and bands of blue, orange, yellow and green. Necklace, three bracelets and earrings. Includes one multi strand collar necklace, three matching bracelets and one pair of drop earrings. If Maasai beadwork has a home colour, it is this one. Red dominates Maasai dress and it is the shade most associated with the culture the work comes from. Every other set in this range is a variation on the idea. This is the one that sits closest to the source. It is also the loudest piece here, and it is meant to be. Red at this scale does not accompany an outfit, it decides one. That makes it the wrong choice for an ordinary work day and exactly the right one for a wedding, a naming ceremony, a birthday, or anywhere a photograph is going to be taken. The points are worked in white rather than black, so they flare against the red instead of cutting it. Inside them run bands of blue, orange, yellow and green, each one separated by black. It wants a plain ground and nothing competing with it: white, cream, black, or traditional dress cut in a single colour. Do not put it over a print, because one of the two will lose and it will not be the necklace. The necklace is worked in multiple beaded strands and fastens at the back with a gold tone clasp and a short extender chain, so you can set it high on the collarbone or let it drop. The bracelets and earrings carry the same beads in the same colour order, which is what makes five separate pieces read as one set. Wear the necklace with a single bracelet for everyday, or all five pieces when you want the full effect. Strung and bound by hand in Kiambu, so the spacing of the points and the colour bands varies slightly from set to set and from the photographs. Care: keep away from perfume, lotion and water, all of which dull the beads and weaken the cord. Store the necklace flat or hanging rather than folded into a box so the strands do not tangle, and wipe with a dry soft cloth after wearing.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Crafts
A handwoven palm basket bag from Zanzibar, about 60cm wide, with a printed cotton band and centre panel, cloth wrapped handles, small leather tabs and a tie closure. Kapu is the Swahili word for basket, and this is the everyday island shape rather than a version of it redrawn for export. It is wide and shallow and flares open at the top, so a towel, a book and a bottle of water sit side by side instead of stacking on top of each other. That is what you want from a market or beach bag and it is exactly what a narrow tote cannot do. The body is plaited from dried palm leaf, worked in Zanzibar in strips known as ukili. The printed cloth is stitched down the centre front and around the top band, the two handles are wrapped in the same cloth and anchored with small tan leather tabs, and a length of cloth ties the top shut. Choose Kitenge, the bold wax print, or Kikoi, the lighter Swahili coastal cloth. Brush it out rather than washing it, and keep it out of the rain.
Sold by Sunora • Tanzania
Fashion Accessories
Kunle Leather Tassel Loafers, handmade for men in premium tan top-grain leather. Refined, timeless, and effortlessly sophisticated: the Snugfeet 'KUNLE' Tassel Loafers for Men are handcrafted from premium top grain leather, designed for the modern man who values quality, comfort, and understated luxury. The rich tan leather upper is complemented by contrasting dark brown hand-finished edges, creating a distinctive two-tone detail that elevates the overall look. Finished with classic leather tassels, these loafers deliver a perfect balance between traditional craftsmanship and modern elegance. Whether paired with tailored trousers, chinos, or denim, these loafers add instant polish to any outfit.
Sold by SNUGFEET INTERNATIONAL • Lagos
Fashion Accessories
Custom Branded Souvenir Bags for weddings, birthdays and corporate events. Customized souvenir bags that speak class, beauty, and excellence Perfect for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, corporate events, and special ceremonies. Each bag is thoughtfully designed to reflect your event theme, making your occasion unforgettable and your brand memorable. We don’t just create souvenir bags… we create lasting impressions. Available in custom designs, branding, colors, and event themes.
Sold by SWCU GLOBAL • Lagos
Fashion Accessories
A handmade tapestry crochet bucket bag in blue and black, from Kenya. The top half is sky blue scattered with small black diamonds that grow larger towards the base, and the lower band is black with diamonds outlined in blue, sitting on a flat round black base. A drawstring closes the top and ends in two black tassels, and a thick braided black strap goes over the shoulder. The stitch is tight and heavy, so the bag holds its shape, and the maker says it is roomy enough for a tablet, a large notebook, a water bottle and a makeup bag. This is a single bag, made by an independent maker in Kenya.
Sold by Majda'sStore • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A Maasai beaded cuff banded in orange, white, black, red, yellow and blue, backed in leather and fastening with a press stud. Narrow enough to wear every day. The rows are worked in fine glass seed beads and held straight by pale spacer strips, and the whole band is mounted on leather so it keeps its shape rather than curling. The press stud means it goes on one handed, which is the practical difference from a tie or a slide fastening. The maker gives the length as 20cm. This is the everyday width. If you want the beadwork to carry a whole outfit on its own, the wide cuff in this shop is the deeper piece.
Sold by Tribal Shop • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A multi strand Maasai style bead necklace that cascades from collar to chest. More than fifteen strands of glass seed beads in red, yellow, orange, blue, green, black and white are gathered into two flat woven bands, with a centre column of large diamond shaped beads running down the middle and silver tone chains and disc drops swinging along the lower strands. It fastens with small metal hooks at the ends of the woven bands. This is a statement piece for weddings, cultural celebrations, stage and photography, worn over a plain neckline so the beadwork does the talking. It is the boldest piece in this maker's range: if you want the same colours in a quieter form, the shop's beaded cuff bracelets carry them in a single band. Wipe with a dry cloth and store flat or hung so the strands do not tangle.
Sold by Tribal Shop • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
Complete your traditional Nigerian look with this handmade Agbada beads set, crafted for the modern African man. The set features three long beaded necklaces and three matching bracelets, made from premium Brazilian coral, natural stone beads, sparkling crystal beads and polished gold ball beads. Perfect for weddings, naming ceremonies, festivals and special occasions, this elegant accessory set adds authentic African style and cultural heritage to your agbada, kaftan or senator outfit. Each piece is carefully handcrafted by skilled artisans, making it a meaningful gift and a timeless addition to any wardrobe.
Sold by Lolari Glamour • Abuja
Fashion Accessories
Handmade beaded flower earrings with petals in red, white, green and black, the Kenyan flag colours, beaded around a faceted gold centre, on gold tone hooks. Nuru means light in Swahili. This is the flag version of the Nuru Bloom, and it is the more interesting of the two to look at, because each petal is a different colour rather than the whole flower being one, so the shape reads as a flower first and the flag second. That is the useful part. It carries Kenya without being a flag pinned to your ear, which is the difference between wearing it once and wearing it often. If you would rather have it plain, the white and gold Nuru Bloom is the same flower in one colour. The maker gives the flower as 4cm across. Every bead is threaded by hand, so the two flowers differ a little from each other. Keep them away from perfume, and store them flat.
Sold by Mulembe beads • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A four piece black and white beaded jewellery set: a cape collar, a headband, drop earrings and a hand bracelet. Every piece carries the same pattern, white diamonds on a black band. The collar is a band of diamonds that sits round the neck and opens into a wide open mesh of black seed beads, with a small white bead at each crossing, falling about 15 to 20cm over the shoulders. The headband repeats the diamond band, the earrings are a beaded diamond with a looped teardrop drop on an ear wire, and the bracelet is a wide beaded cuff joined by a beaded strand to a ring that slips over a finger. It is made for weddings, traditional ceremonies, heritage days and formal evenings, and black and white sits well over almost any colour worn underneath. Hand beaded to order in South Africa from glass seed beads on jewellery thread, so allow 7 to 14 days for making before it ships. Keep the beadwork dry and wipe it gently with a soft cloth.
Sold by IzigiBeads • East London
Fashion Accessories
Three small coconut shell pouches on cords, worn as necklaces, from Ghana. Each pouch is a hollowed coconut shell painted in bands of red, yellow, green and black, with a zip set between the shell and its lid and a black cord to hang it round your neck. It is a pendant and a pocket at once: big enough for coins, a key, earplugs or a lip balm at a festival or on the beach, and small enough to forget you are wearing it. The three in the photographs are lettered UNITE, ROOT and AFRICA. They are made by Ancient Culture, a Ghanaian artisan partner of Unite Root Africa in Nsawam. The set is assorted, so the lettering and the order of the colour bands on yours may differ from the photographs.
Sold by Unite Root Africa • Ghana
Fashion Accessories
Handmade beaded flower earrings in white seed beads, with gold beaded stamens radiating from a faceted gold centre, on gold tone hooks. Nuru means light in Swahili, and these are the brightest thing in the range. The petals are beaded solid while the gold runs out between them in fine lines, so the flower reads clearly from across a room rather than turning into a blur. White and gold is wedding and occasion territory. If you want the same flower in the Kenyan flag colours, the other Nuru Bloom pair is beaded in red, green, black and white. The maker gives the flower as 4cm across. Every bead is threaded by hand, so the two flowers differ a little from each other. Keep them away from perfume, and store them flat.
Sold by Mulembe beads • Kenya
Crafts
Flat leather thong sandals with a toe post that threads through two wide straps crossed into a woven knot over the vamp, handmade in Kenya. The knot is the design. Two broad leather straps cross over each other above the toes and the narrow toe post passes through the loop they make, so nothing sits glued on top and the straps hold one another. Every edge, the straps and the footbed alike, is finished with cream saddle stitching that follows the full outline of the shoe. There is no beading and no metal on this pair. It is plain leather and stitching, which is why it carries further through a wardrobe than a beaded pair does, and why it is the one to pick if you want a sandal you can wear to work and then to dinner. The footbed is flat with no heel. Sizes run UK 3 to UK 8. The pair photographed is the darkest of the three colourways, and the white and the tan brown are made in the same pattern. Wipe with a dry cloth, keep them out of standing water, and dry them away from direct heat.
Sold by Alpha Threads Fashions • NAIROBI
Fashion Accessories
A curved top handle bag covered in pointed beads set so the points face outward, giving it a spiked surface, in ruby red or jet black. Most beaded bags are smooth. This one is deliberately not. The points catch the light in hard flashes rather than a soft shimmer, and they give the bag an edge that suits a darker outfit. Ruby red is the louder of the two and photographs almost like cut glass. Jet black keeps the texture but loses the colour, so it reads as structure rather than as a statement. The first photograph shows the red bag held in the hand, which is the honest way to judge the size, and the second shows both colourways side by side. The handle is a closed arch, beaded on both faces. Wipe with a dry cloth. The points can catch on loose knits, so keep it away from fine wool.
Sold by Mlumun • Lagos, Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
African Beaded Sandals are handmade leather shoes finished with colourful beadwork and designed for a comfortable women's fit. The multicoloured strap and artisanal construction give the pair a distinctive statement look that works for casual wear, travel and gift shopping. This listing is a strong match for shoppers searching for handmade African sandals, beaded leather shoes and Maasai-inspired women's footwear with personality.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A small top handle bag built from overlapping marble effect discs, with a top band and twin handles woven from faceted crystal beads. Seven colours, handmade bead by bead. There are two different pieces of work in this bag. The body is built from flat marble effect discs, each one threaded on individually and overlapped in rows like scales, so the surface shifts and catches light as the bag moves. The top band and both handles are something else entirely: a lattice woven from faceted crystal beads, clear enough to see through. It is small, and deliberately so. It holds a phone, a card holder, a lipstick and a key, which is the entire job of an occasion bag. This is not a bag for carrying things. It is a bag for being seen with. Seven colourways: pink, blue, green, red, brown, chocolate and white. The pink is the one photographed. White is what people order for weddings, and chocolate and brown are the two that work across a year rather than for one outfit. Against a plain dress it becomes the entire accessory. Against a print it fights, so choose one or the other. For its size it photographs far better than it has any right to, which is why it tends to end up in more pictures than the outfit it was bought to go with. Every disc and every bead is threaded on by hand, row by row. A bag this size runs to several hundred of them, which is why each one takes what it takes. Care: beaded bags snag on rough fabric and on jewellery, so keep it clear of knitwear and store it in a dust bag rather than loose in a wardrobe. Wipe it down with a dry soft cloth and never soak it.
Sold by Prechgold_crafts • Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
Elevate your everyday look with our handcrafted statement earrings, designed for women who love art, culture, elegance, and originality. Each piece is carefully made with attention to detail, blending creativity with timeless African-inspired beauty. From bold artistic designs to minimalist luxury styles, our earrings are lightweight, stylish, unique, and perfect for every occasion. Whether you’re dressing up for an event, creating content, gifting a loved one, or adding personality to your daily outfit, these earrings are made to stand out beautifully without compromising comfort. Why you’ll love them: • Handmade with premium finishing • Unique artistic and African-inspired designs • Lightweight and comfortable for long wear • Perfect for casual, classy, and occasion styling • Beautiful gift option for fashion lovers Style meets art in every piece. Limited pieces available.
Sold by FOSAC ENTERPRISE • Osun
Fashion Accessories
A handmade rope necklace of white pearl beads wrapped in bright pink seed beads that spiral all the way round it, finished with a silver tone clasp. The most playful of the maker's pearl twists, made for summer, a pink outfit or a bridesmaid in pink. Two lines of hot pink beads, with finer pale beads between them, wind around the pearls like the stripes on a sweet, so the white shows through in soft bands and the colour reads from across a room. It sits close at the base of the neck, round and full, and needs nothing else with it. It fastens with a silver tone lobster clasp, with a small bead cap at each end of the rope and a short extender chain finished with a ball, all visible in the first photograph, so it can sit a little higher or lower. If you want something quieter, the same twist is also made in black and white, and in green and white. Care: keep it dry and away from perfume, and store it laid flat or loosely coiled so the spiral keeps its shape.
Sold by Mulembe beads • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A small round green top handle bag, beaded by hand in Nigeria. Liora is the maker's name for this piece. The body is built from transparent green drop shaped beads, set so their points face outward and give the bag a soft, spiky texture. A band of lighter lime beads runs around the rim and carries on up into the arched handle, so the two greens frame each other. Inside it is lined in green satin. It suits weddings, parties and any day you want one bright thing to carry the outfit. It holds a phone, cards and keys. The maker gives its size as 7 x 9 x 11cm. Care: store it on its base so the beads keep their shape, keep it away from sharp objects, and wipe with a soft dry cloth.
Sold by Beadsbyraysul • Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
A two piece brass jewellery set from Kenya: a multi band open cuff and a matching bypass ring, each holding a natural cowrie shell and a cast brass one. What sets it apart is that pairing. On the cuff a real cowrie sits in a twisted rope bezel beside a cowrie cast in solid brass, so the same shell appears twice, once as the sea made it and once in metal. The ring carries the idea on to the hand, the two shells passing each other on an open band. If the rest of your jewellery is plain metal, this is the piece that brings in texture without bringing in colour. Cowrie shells were money across much of Africa for centuries and still stand for wealth and good fortune. The East African coast has its own cowrie, so on a Kenyan piece these are shells from home waters rather than a borrowed symbol. Polished brass with natural cowrie shells, hand worked and hand finished, so the bands carry faint hammer marks and no two sets come out identical. The cuff is about 5 to 6.4cm deep with an inner diameter of about 5.7 to 6.4cm, open at the back so it eases on and adjusts to the wrist. The ring is an open band that adjusts to the finger. Brass darkens as it is worn. A soft cloth and a little brass polish bring the shine back. Keep it away from perfume and water, and store it dry.
Sold by NICKÉ JEWELRY • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A hand beaded Kenyan flag cuff bracelet made in Kenya, in two designs, for wearing the flag to a match, a celebration or every day. You choose the design at checkout. Red cuff: a solid red beaded band with a narrow stripe in the flag colours running across it, and the Maasai shield from the centre of the Kenyan flag worked over the top in red, black and white beads. This is the cuff in the first photograph. Green: the flag itself wrapped around the wrist, wide bands of green, red and black divided by white, with the shield beaded where the stripes meet. It fastens with two black press studs, as the second photograph shows. If you want the flag to read at a glance, choose the green cuff, because it is the whole flag. If you want a bold block of colour that sits well with a plain outfit, choose the red. The maker gives the size as 20cm. It is made from beads and string by hand, so the pattern can vary slightly from cuff to cuff. Keep it dry and store it flat.
Sold by Tribal Shop • Kenya
Crafts
A pair of teardrop wooden earrings, each face hand drawn with a band of African geometric pattern and hung from a small white faceted bead. Light enough for all day wear. The pattern is worked freehand across the lower half of each drop, rows of circles, arcs and dashes, so the two earrings in a pair sit close but never match exactly and no two pairs are the same. The wood keeps its grain under a warm reddish finish. Each drop hangs from a wire wrapped loop on a silver tone fish hook. Handmade in Kenya. Keep them dry and wipe with a soft cloth.
Sold by Tribal Shop • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
Handmade African beaded sandals crafted from genuine leather and finished with colourful beadwork for a bold, artisan look. These Maasai-inspired sandals are designed for comfort, everyday wear and standout styling, with secure lace-up support and a lightweight feel. A versatile choice for shoppers searching for handmade leather sandals, African-inspired footwear and unique statement shoes.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A handmade brass cuff with a wide hammered disc at its centre and a single natural cowrie shell bound on with fine brass wire. The back is open, so it slips over the wrist and adjusts. Most cowrie jewellery threads a row of small shells onto cord. This sets one whole shell on a hammered brass disc, so the shell reads as a single deliberate focal point rather than a holiday souvenir, and the piece carries an outfit on its own without a second bracelet next to it. The frame is one length of round brass bent into a long teardrop, with the disc fixed where the two ends meet, about 3 inches across by the maker's own measure. The maker also describes the brass as recycled. There is no clasp and no sizing to choose: squeeze the opening gently to close the fit, or ease it wider. Brass darkens as it is worn. Bring the shine back with a soft cloth and keep it dry.
Sold by NICKÉ JEWELRY • Kenya
Crafts
Flat tan leather sandals with a beaded toe ring and a wide instep band worked in a red, black and gold zigzag of small glass beads, handmade in Kenya. The band across the instep is the work. Rows of small glass seed beads are stitched into diamonds that step across the strap in red, black and gold, and the beaded edge is cut into points so the band reads as a zigzag rather than a straight line. A smaller beaded tab in the same colours sits on the toe ring. This is a toe ring sandal rather than a slide. A narrow leather loop rises from the footbed and a toe passes through it, so the front of the foot is held by the loop and not by a strap across the top. If you have only ever worn slides it feels different for the first hour and then it stops being noticeable. The footbed is tan leather with cream saddle stitching all the way round, flat with no heel. Sizes run UK 3 to UK 7. Black and white are made in the same beaded pattern. Wipe with a dry cloth, keep them out of standing water, and dry them away from direct heat.
Sold by Alpha Threads Fashions • NAIROBI
Fashion Accessories
A handmade purple crochet hat with a soft lilac ruffled brim. The crown is worked in a close purple crochet stitch and finished with a band and a full ruffle of fluffy lilac yarn that frames the face, so it reads as a statement piece with a plain outfit. It is one size, made to fit an adult head. Each hat is crocheted by hand by Stellz Crochets, so allow the dispatch time for it to be made.
Sold by Stellz.Crochets • Lagos
Fashion
A handwoven sisal basket tote from Kenya, banded in rust, tan and dark brown, with two natural leather shoulder straps and a flat oval base. The straps are cut long enough to sit on the shoulder, which is what separates this from the short handled market baskets most people picture. It carries hands free, over a coat, and the body stays soft rather than rigid, so it packs down around whatever you put in it: a towel and a book for the beach, or the week's shopping. Size 32cm wide by 32cm high, which is 12 by 12 inches. The measurement excludes the handles. Materials and construction Handwoven sisal with genuine leather handles. The sisal thread is dyed before weaving rather than painted on afterwards, so the colour bands run true through the fibre and will not rub off at the corners. The body is twined by hand over a vertical warp, one row at a time, and the base is worked as a flat oval so the bag stands up when you set it down. The interior is lined and fastens with a zip. Care Do not soak the bag in water. Wipe clean with a dry or slightly damp cloth. Store in a cool, dry place when not in use. Shipping Orders are sent by DHL Express or UPS, with a tracking number once your parcel is dispatched. Bags are flattened to fit the courier flyer, which keeps the shipping cost down and does the bag no harm, as sisal is resilient and regains its shape once unpacked. Custom orders The maker welcomes custom orders. If you would like a different size, colour or design, send a message through Sokofa and they will help.
Sold by KIKWETU MAASAI STORES • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
Handmade flower earrings in red and gold seed beads, built up in raised loops around a faceted pink bead at the centre, on gold tone fish hook ear wires. A bright, warm pair for a celebration, a wedding guest outfit or anything in red. Moto is the Swahili word for fire. Short rows of red beads are looped over a dense body of gold ones, so the flower flickers between the two colours as it moves, and the pink centre catches the light. The first photograph shows the pair on a plain background, and the two earrings differ slightly, as a handmade pair does. If you want the same flower darker, the Dhahabu earrings are black and gold. Care: keep them dry and away from perfume, and store them so the loops are not crushed.
Sold by Mulembe beads • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
Dunni Navy Driving Loafers, handmade for men in premium navy genuine leather. Step out in style with these premium navy blue leather loafers, designed for comfort, durability, and timeless elegance. Crafted from high-quality genuine leather, these men’s slip-on loafers feature a smooth finish with detailed contrast stitching that adds a refined touch to the classic design. These handmade leather loafers are built for everyday versatility. The easy slip-on design makes them practical for daily wear, while the soft inner lining and flexible sole provide long-lasting comfort. Perfect for work, travel, weekends, or smart casual occasions, these men’s leather driving shoes pair effortlessly with jeans, chinos, or tailored trousers. Designed for modern style and practicality, these luxury leather loafers combine minimalist design with premium craftsmanship, making them an excellent addition to any wardrobe.
Sold by SNUGFEET INTERNATIONAL • Lagos
Fashion Accessories
Custom Jute Souvenir Gift Bags, handcrafted eco-friendly totes for events and branding. Our handcrafted jute souvenir bags are eco friendly, durable and can be customised for corporate and special events. Available in different sizes and colours
Sold by Dammyglory Crafts • Lagos State
Crafts
A hand crocheted top handle bag with a large rose worked across the front, made in polyester yarn and finished with a metal chain strap. Choose pink, ash, brown or red. The rose is not a trim sewn on afterwards. It is crocheted in the same yarn as the bag and grows straight out of the front panel, which is why it keeps its shape instead of flattening in a wardrobe. It is the reason to buy this one rather than a plain crochet bag. Carry it short by the crochet handles, or let it hang on the chain. Polyester yarn holds its colour better than cotton in strong sun and does not go limp in the rain, which matters on a bag with a shaped flower on the front. Care: spot clean only, reshape the rose by hand while it is damp, and dry it flat away from direct heat.
Sold by Rachella'scrochets • Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
A 3-pack of canvas tote bags built around a minimalist art print design, finished with sturdy black webbing handles. Designed for everyday carrying, shopping, books, and work essentials rather than as a display piece. This is the minimalist print version from Macaw House, available in 12x14, 14x16, and 16x18 inch sizes at £45 for the 3-pack.
Sold by Macaw House • Lagos
Fashion Accessories
Upgrade your footwear collection with these premium tan suede leather loafers, designed for men who appreciate comfort, quality, and timeless style. Crafted from high-quality suede leather, these men’s slip-on penny loafers feature a classic moccasin-style silhouette with hand-stitched detailing that highlights their refined craftsmanship. These luxury leather loafers for men combine elegance with everyday practicality. The soft suede upper provides a rich texture and sophisticated look, while the breathable inner lining and cushioned footbed ensure lasting comfort throughout the day. The easy slip-on design makes these men’s casual leather shoes perfect for effortless dressing. Whether you're heading to the office, travelling, or dressing for a smart-casual occasion, these tan suede loafers pair perfectly with chinos, tailored trousers, or denim. Their versatile design makes them an essential addition to any modern wardrobe. These men’s designer-style loafers deliver the perfect balance of comfort, durability, and timeless British-inspired style.
Sold by SNUGFEET INTERNATIONAL • Lagos
Fashion Accessories
A maroon canvas tote bag with a bold African print panel down the front. The body is a sturdy maroon canvas. A strip of multicoloured geometric print, in yellow, orange, red, pink and sky blue on black, runs from the top edge to the base, and the same print frames both bottom corners. Two black webbing straps carry it on the shoulder. There is room for your daily essentials, a laptop or the weekly market shop, and it measures 45 x 35 x 15 cm. The shape is plain and practical, and the single stripe of print is what makes it yours: it sits as easily with work clothes as with a weekend outfit. If you prefer texture, the same maker also makes crochet bags. Handmade in Kenya.
Sold by Majda'sStore • Kenya
Crafts
An occasion bag covered entirely in cowrie shells, pearls, small seashells and beads, in ivory and pale cream, with a curved top handle. Handmade one at a time. There is no plain surface anywhere on it. The body and the handle are worked over completely with cowries, pearls in three sizes, small scallop and conch shells, bugle beads and tiny fabric bows, so the whole thing catches light the way the inside of a shell does rather than reflecting it flatly. Ivory, pearl and shell is a wedding palette, and that is where this bag earns its keep. It suits a bride who wants something other than a satin clutch, a bridesmaid, a mother of the bride, or any white tie or all white event where everyone else will be carrying something bought off a shelf. The cowries are not there as a seaside motif. Cowrie shells circulated as currency across West Africa for centuries, and they still carry associations of wealth and abundance, which is why they appear on ceremonial dress, crowns and bridal pieces rather than on everyday things. A bag covered in them is saying something specific, and it is not nautical. Every shell and bead is placed by hand, one at a time. That is why dispatch runs to two to four weeks and why no two bags are laid out identically. The maker's own words for it: someone sat down, created, corrected, adjusted, and poured their craft into something you can carry. Message us before ordering if you need the exact outside measurements, the handle drop, or what the bag holds, and we will measure the one going out to you. Care: shells and pearls chip if they knock against a hard surface, so store it in a dust bag with nothing stacked on top of it. Keep it away from perfume and hairspray, which dull the finish, and never let it get wet.
Sold by Mlumun • Lagos, Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
Blue and white beaded diamond earrings, handmade in Kenya. Rows of seed beads are stitched flat into a long diamond: a white border, then bands of royal blue and a lighter blue, around a small white diamond at the centre. Baraka means blessing in Swahili. This is the statement pair: large, flat and graphic, they read from across a room and go well with white, denim or navy. They are lightweight and hang from silver tone fish hook ear wires. The maker gives the size as 8cm by 4.5cm.Handmade by Nekesa of Mulembe Beads, a Bukusu beadworker in Kenya.
Sold by Mulembe beads • Kenya
Crafts
A handwoven sisal kiondo tote in navy and cream stripes, with a tan leather flap that buckles shut and two adjustable leather shoulder straps. Most basket bags are open at the top. This one closes. A stitched leather flap folds over the opening and fastens with a long leather strap and a metal buckle at the front, so what you carry stays covered on a bus, in a crowd or in the rain. The shoulder straps have buckles of their own near the rim, so you can shorten them to carry it by hand or let them out to wear it over a coat. The stripes are three wide bands of navy between bands of natural cream sisal, a crisp, nautical look that suits summer, the beach and a plain navy or white wardrobe. If you want something softer and closer to the natural colour of the fibre, the store's cream and natural kiondo is the better choice. The body is twined by hand from natural sisal fibre, stiff enough to stand up on its own. The maker gives it as 32cm wide and 32cm tall, excluding the handles, and lists it as lined. Bags are flattened for shipping to keep the parcel small. This does no harm, as sisal springs back into shape once it is unpacked. Do not soak the bag. Wipe it with a dry or barely damp cloth and store it somewhere dry.
Sold by KIKWETU MAASAI STORES • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A handmade drop earring built on a bright red button, with a red and white spotted strawberry and a green leafy top hanging below it. These earrings belong to EHC, The Earring That Heard The Conversation. The buttons once held clothes together and now sit by the ear, listening in. That is the whole idea of the piece, something ordinary moved to where it can be noticed. This is the playful one. The strawberry is small and solid rather than dainty, so it reads across a room, and the red button repeats the fruit instead of competing with it. It suits denim and plain summer clothes, and it is short enough to wear all day without pulling. About 5cm long. Made by hand in Ibadan, Nigeria. Keep it away from perfume and water, and store it flat.
Sold by LEŌN & CISCA • Ibadan
Fashion Accessories
These handmade Maasai beaded sandals combine genuine leather, colourful beadwork and a short gladiator-inspired shape for standout everyday wear. Designed for women who want comfortable African-inspired footwear with personality, this pair works well for casual outfits, travel and statement styling. The artisan finish, multicoloured details and lightweight build make them a strong choice for shoppers searching for handmade leather sandals, beaded women’s sandals and African fashion footwear.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
Te Fiti's Heart is a handmade necklace and earring set crafted to bring a bold, one-of-one statement to your look. Designed for shoppers searching for unique handmade jewelry, this set blends artisanal detail, distinctive character, and everyday wearability. With its expressive design and thoughtful finish, it is an ideal gift or personal piece for anyone who loves original fashion jewelry with a story.
Sold by Alienesque Co • Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
Our luxury auto gele for women is designed for elegance, comfort, and effortless style. Each piece is carefully hand-finished and embellished with premium stones, creating a rich and sophisticated African headpiece that instantly elevates your outfit. This stoned auto gele is lightweight, easy to wear, and beautifully structured to maintain its royal shape throughout the day. It is ideal for weddings, Aso Ebi, parties, celebrations, and other special occasions where you want a bold and graceful look without the stress of long tying time. Perfect for brides, wedding guests, and fashion-forward women, this handmade auto gele combines beauty, convenience, and confidence in one piece. Luxury you can wear, confidence you can feel.
Sold by SWCU GLOBAL • Lagos
Crafts
A handmade beaded handbag in a flame pattern of black, red and yellow. The box shaped bag is built from faceted beads woven in an open lattice: bright yellow along the base, red flames licking upwards, and black drips falling from the rim to meet them. A thick beaded black handle arches over the top, and a gold MLUMUN nameplate sits at the front corner. It is a bag to be noticed, made for evenings out and outfits in black or red. Made by hand in Nigeria by The Mlumun Brand. Wipe with a dry cloth.
Sold by Mlumun • Lagos, Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
Six handmade beaded bracelets from Ghana, each in its own pattern. Each bracelet is a firm, round tube of small beads stitched closely together. There is no clasp, so each one slips over the hand. The patterns run from simple orange and yellow stripes to blocks of red, white, green and yellow, bright chevrons, and turquoise grounds dotted with tiny bead flowers. Wear one on its own, stack all six on one wrist, or split the set between friends as gifts. They are made by Ancient Culture, a Ghanaian artisan partner of Unite Root Africa in Nsawam. The set is assorted. The maker works with the beads on hand, so the six you receive will be in the same style as the photographs but not necessarily the same six patterns.
Sold by Unite Root Africa • Ghana
Fashion Accessories
A top handle bag covered completely in acrylic flowers, leaves and faceted crystals in every colour at once, each one threaded on by hand. It is built for the occasion where the outfit is plain and the bag is the thing people look at, so weddings, parties and dinners rather than every day. Because every colour is already in it, it sits with almost anything you put on, which is the opposite problem to a bag you have to match. The handle is the one plain part of it. A single arch of three rows of round crystal beads, left smooth so it sits in the hand without the flowers pressing into your fingers. Everything below it is flowers, leaves and trumpet shaped beads standing proud on short stems, each one stopped with a tiny seed bead so it holds its place. If you would rather have one colour than all of them, the Nenye bag from the same maker is the smooth marble disc version in a single shade. The maker gives the height as 25cm. Every bead is threaded on by hand, so the placing of the flowers differs from bag to bag and yours will not match the photographs exactly. Keep it away from knitwear and from jewellery that can catch the beads, store it in a dust bag rather than loose in a wardrobe, and support it from underneath when it is full.
Sold by Prechgold_crafts • Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
A four piece beaded jewellery set in royal blue, red and white. The set is a cape collar, a headband, a pair of fringe earrings and a hand bracelet, all in the same pattern of red and blue triangles edged with white. The collar sits round the neck as a band of triangles, with a beaded diamond at the centre front, and opens into a fringe of blue and red strands tipped with white that falls to a second diamond. The headband repeats the triangle band, the earrings are a red beaded diamond over a blue fringe on an ear wire, and the bracelet is a beaded cuff joined by a beaded strand to a loop that slips over a finger. The maker names the set Nomathemba, which they translate as Mother of Hope. It is made for traditional weddings, heritage days and formal evenings, and the blue and red reads strongly against black or white worn underneath. If you prefer a quieter palette, the maker's Imbasa set is the same four pieces in black and white. Hand beaded to order in South Africa from glass seed beads on jewellery thread, so allow 1 to 2 weeks before it ships. Keep the beadwork dry and wipe it gently with a soft cloth.
Sold by IzigiBeads • East London
Fashion Accessories
Beaded drop earrings in the colours of the Kenyan flag, handmade in Kenya. Black, red, green and white seed beads run in diagonal stripes down a long diamond, with gold toned beads between the rows and a faceted gold bead at the tip. Uhuru is the Swahili word for freedom, and the colours carry the meaning of the flag: black for the people, red for the blood shed for independence, green for the land and white for peace. They are lightweight and suit Madaraka and Jamhuri Day, a family celebration, or any outfit that wants a flash of colour. They hang from gold tone fish hook ear wires. The maker gives the size as 4.5cm long by 1.5cm wide.Handmade by Nekesa of Mulembe Beads, a Bukusu beadworker in Kenya. If you want the flag colours in a rounder shape, the Amani and Nuru Bloom flower earrings from the same maker are the softer choice.
Sold by Mulembe beads • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A hand beaded barrel bag in ivory pearl finish beads with clear faceted beads worked through it, carried by a beaded top handle in the same rows. The short, rounded barrel shape is where the name comes from, and it is what makes the bag read as a considered piece rather than another beaded clutch. It suits a wedding, a party or a dinner where a soft neutral works harder than a colour. Ivory sits with cream, champagne, gold and every shade of white, so it goes with the outfit you already own rather than one you have to buy for it. The beads are strung by hand in rows over a firm barrel body, so the bag holds its shape rather than slumping when you set it down, and the handle is beaded to match rather than added in cord or chain. The clear faceted beads are spaced through the pearl ones, which is what gives the surface its flicker under light. A small brass tone plate on the front carries the maker's name, Ciperles Handmade. Hold it by the body rather than the handle when it is full. Keep it in a dust bag, away from perfume and hairspray, and wipe it with a dry soft cloth.
Sold by Ciperles Handmade • Ghana
Buying guide
Accessories are the easiest way to bring African craftsmanship into an everyday wardrobe. Waist beads carry centuries of meaning in West African culture, worn for celebration, body awareness, or simply because they are beautiful. Handmade jewellery ranges from recycled-brass statement pieces to delicate Maasai beadwork, while leather bags and Ankara-lined totes pair traditional materials with modern shapes.
When choosing handmade jewellery or beadwork, small variations are part of the point: no two strands of hand-fired glass beads are identical, and brass pieces develop a warm patina with wear. Product photos show a representative piece, and the maker's notes flag anything that varies.
Everything in this category ships worldwide from independent artisans, and because accessories travel light, they are some of the most popular gifts on Sokofa.
Common questions
Sokofa (sokofa.com) is an online marketplace for handmade African accessories: waist beads, recycled-brass jewellery, Maasai beadwork, leather bags and Ankara-lined totes, sold directly by the African artisans who make them. Every product is reviewed before it goes live, items ship worldwide with secure checkout, and if an item arrives damaged, wrong, or not as described, contact support within 48 hours of delivery to arrange a return or refund.
Waist beads are a West African tradition worn around the waist or hips, historically for femininity, celebration and body awareness, today also simply as jewellery. Most are strung to order: measure where you want them to sit and choose that length, worn under or over clothing as you prefer.
Common materials include recycled brass, hand-fired glass beads, cowrie shells, leather, and semi-precious stones. Each product page lists the exact materials, and because pieces are handmade, small variations from the photo are normal.
They are among the most-gifted items on Sokofa: lightweight to ship, one-size-friendly, and each comes with the story of the artisan who made it. The Gifts Under £50 collection is a good place to start.
Keep brass dry and polish it occasionally with a soft cloth, as a deepening patina is natural and many wearers love it. Store beadwork flat or hanging to protect the thread, and keep both away from perfume and salt water.
