14 items
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
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
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
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
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
A set of three handmade Ankara tote bags in assorted African prints. Each bag measures about 39cm high, 35cm wide and 4cm deep, with black webbing straps fitted on metal clips, and each comes in a different wax print pattern, so the set covers shopping days, work bags and gifts in one go. They are sewn in Nsawam, Ghana by Ancient Culture, and the prints are chosen to celebrate the bold colour and creativity of African textile traditions. Lightweight and practical for everyday shopping, work, travel, cultural events and gifting. Because the set is assorted, the exact three patterns you receive may vary with available fabric, which makes every set unique.
Sold by Unite Root Africa • Ghana
Fashion Accessories
Add a touch of African craftsmanship to your gifting with this handcrafted jute gift bag by Dammyglory Crafts. Made from natural, eco-friendly jute fibre, this sustainable tote bag is perfect for wrapping presents, corporate event favours, wedding souvenirs, and special occasion packaging. Each bag is carefully handmade by skilled African artisans, ensuring quality craftsmanship and a unique, rustic charm that makes every gift feel extra special. The durable jute material is both sturdy and biodegradable, making it an excellent choice for environmentally conscious shoppers and businesses looking for sustainable packaging solutions. These versatile jute bags can be customised for corporate branding, personalised event gifting, or festive occasions. Their natural texture and earthy aesthetic add a warm, authentic feel to any presentation. Whether you are planning a wedding, hosting a corporate event, or simply want an eco-friendly alternative to plastic gift bags, this handcrafted jute tote is the perfect choice.
Sold by Dammyglory Crafts • Lagos State
Crafts
A handwoven sisal tote in two bands of cream and natural, with long tan leather shoulder straps, a printed cotton lining and a wooden button fastening. It is a real market basket rather than a basket shaped handbag, so it holds a laptop, a towel or a shop without losing its shape, and the straps are long enough to sit on the shoulder over a coat. The sisal is stiff enough to stand up on its own when you put it down, which is the difference between this and a soft straw bag. The lining is the part worth knowing about. Each bag is lined in printed cotton and the maker uses what she has, so no two linings are the same. The bag in the first photograph is lined with several different prints pieced together, navy with pink, gold and white figures. The bag in the second photograph has a single brown and gold print. Yours will be lined in a print of its own. The body is twined by hand from natural sisal fibre. The leather straps are riveted through the weave with copper rivets rather than stitched to a fabric tab, which is the join that usually fails on a basket bag. A wooden button on a leather cord fastens the top. It measures about 32cm wide and 32cm tall, excluding the handles. 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 3-pack canvas tote bag set with a minimalist line-art design and black webbing handles, made for daily errands, books, and shopping. Unisex fit, sized for everyday carrying rather than as a statement art piece. This is the unisex minimalist line-art 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
A one of a kind tote handmade in Kenya from upcycled denim, given a second life with vibrant Ankara print panels, a row of natural cowrie shells and soft brown animal hide (rua) detailing. Metal eyelets and a gathered denim ruffle finish the front, and the twin denim straps sit comfortably on the shoulder. Because it is built from a single reclaimed garment, only one exists, so no two buyers will ever carry the same bag. Roomy enough for daily essentials, a book, a purse and a phone. Wipe clean with a damp cloth and avoid soaking so the shells and hide stay intact.
Sold by Nimmosita • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A 3-pack of canvas tote bags featuring an original abstract face art design, built for daily use rather than display. Each bag is made from durable canvas with sturdy black webbing handles, sized for books, shopping, gym kit, or work essentials. This is the abstract face art 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
A handwoven palm basket bag from Zanzibar, banded in kikoi with a fringe and leather straps. Two colourways are in stock, one bag of each. The orange bag has a striped orange kikoi band, red twisted cord fringe and a yellow striped panel down the front (photos 1 and 3). The turquoise bag has a striped turquoise and grey kikoi band, turquoise fringe and tasselled corners (photo 2). Green, brown, purple and pink appear in the colour picker but are sold out and not photographed. Kapu is the Swahili word for basket. Where the maker's Kitenge kapu has cloth wrapped handles and a tie top, this one is finished in leather: two dark leather handles long enough to carry on the shoulder, stitched to the band on leather tabs, and a tooled leather tab down the centre front with a buckled strap. The body is plaited from dried palm leaf, the kikoi is stitched around the top and down the front, and the fringe hangs along the lower edge of the band. About 50cm wide and 40cm tall, as given by the maker. Brush it out rather than washing it, and keep it out of the rain.
Sold by Sunora • Tanzania
Buying guide
The totes here fall into three families. Sisal kiondo bags from Kenya are woven by hand from sisal fibre, usually in bands of colour, and finished with leather straps; they are built to be carried every day and soften with use. Palm basket bags such as the Zanzibar kapu are larger and lighter, good for markets and the beach. Printed canvas and jute totes from Nigeria carry original artwork and are the practical, washable end of the range.
Choose by what you will carry. A sisal kiondo holds its shape when full and suits shopping and work. A palm kapu is roomy but best kept dry. Canvas and jute totes fold flat and are the easy choice for gifts, events and branded giveaways, which is why several are sold in packs.
Handwoven bags vary a little in size and stripe placement from one to the next, so check the dimensions on each listing. Every product is reviewed before it goes live, orders ship worldwide, and an estimated delivery price is shown on the product page before you reach checkout.
Read the full guide
Common questions
Sokofa (sokofa.com) sells handmade African tote bags directly from the makers: sisal kiondo totes with leather straps from Kenya, palm basket bags from Zanzibar, upcycled denim totes with Ankara panels, and printed canvas and jute totes from Nigeria. Orders ship worldwide.
A kiondo is a Kenyan basket bag woven by hand from sisal fibre, traditionally in coloured bands, often with leather straps or a leather flap. It is sturdy, holds its shape when full and becomes softer and more personal with use.
Keep it dry, brush off dust rather than washing it, and store it stuffed with paper so it keeps its shape. If it gets damp, let it dry naturally away from direct heat. Leather straps benefit from an occasional wipe with leather conditioner.
Several canvas and jute totes on Sokofa are sold in packs, and some makers offer custom printing for events. Ask through the product page before ordering if you need a larger quantity or a custom design.
