About Kibibi
After a fabulous couple of years living in Tanzania I found I couldn’t completely leave it behind so decided to bring a little piece with me back to the UK and spread the word. Kibibi was created and here’s the story of how it all began.
I have always been interested in fabric, colour and stitching crafts. Finding myself living in Tanzania for a few years and having time to explore these interests, I set about searching for something that would allow me to pursue my passion. Within a short time I had met 3 great women and started working with them to create a small business called Moyo. These amazing people were, Gitte from Sweden, Mavis from Zimbabwe and Ayesha From Tanzania. Each of us had different skills we could contribute ranging from admin, design and craft, but much of the creative impetus continues to come from Ayesha - A Tanzanian designer with a background as a professional photographer – She is a woman full of energy and amazing ideas who has continued to guide Moyo as it grows -spreading the word for great African design.
During those early months in 2006 we built up a team of great tailors and beaders and broadened Moyo’s range to include home decor and gifts . Right from the start the main inspiration for the designs came not only from the local fabrics, kanga and kitenge, but a desire to move away from the more common view of African craft. We wanted to create something that represented the colour vibrancy of the fabric and Tanzanias rich cultural heritage. The new moyo range proved to be very popular and very soon we were unable to cope with the volume of work. We used street tailors during busy periods but this meant it was difficult to control quality, so we employed one of these people permanently and took on a trainee. Our trainee, Robert had been working as a security guard on a minimum wage, 6 days a week, 12 hours a day. He worked hard in his spare time to see if he was suited to tailoring and after 6 months came to work for Moyo full time.
Moyo now has 3 full time tailors and 10 full and part time workers who hand finish products by adding pom poms and Masai beads. In a country where a third of the population survive on less than $1.25 a day, salaries at Moyo average $150 - $300 pm for a full time worker. We all felt it was important for Moyo and it’s workers to be investing in the wider economy and Tanzania’s long-term development and so Moyo is now a limited company, with all employees working on a contract, paying taxes and contributing to pensions.
In June 2008 our family returned to the UK. Desperate to continue my involvement with Tanzania and Moyo, I decided to set up Kibibi. Moyo was thriving in Tanzania but it’s ability to grow and employ more people was limited because of the size of the domestic market . Creating Kibibi was a way of overcoming this barrier and introducing the Moyo range to a wider audience….the world!
As I was working through the process of setting up the business I found it was difficult to completely ignore all the other beautiful things that are produced in Tanzania. So I decided that Kibibi should also offer a taste of these things. You will find throughout the site, other great quality products made by Wonder Welders and Mabinti . We hope you enjoy.
Kibibi – promoting great African design, entrepreneurship
and sustainable development through Fair trade
Gardening apron
8.00
