Beading in Kenya
 

I will be in Kenya visiting Nairobi and Porini camps in October with my DH, who puts up with (even encourages!) my jewelry design hobby/business. I'd love to pick up some components unique to Kenya while we're there. Any other beaders out there who can advise on what to buy and where? (Eurotraveler, where are you these days anyway?)

I generally focus on semiprecious stones with sterling or gold-filled/vermeil, but try to vary things by adding unusual items such as bone and high-quality carved wood. I'm able to buy the fairly common painted wood beads at gem shows in the US, so am looking for something more unusual than that. We'll be visiting villages near Amboseli and Shompole at the start and end of our safari adventure.

Thanks for any advice - Claire

Hi Claire

One of the largest producers of beads is Kazuri Beads, who have their workshop in Karen, a suburb of Nairobi. You may find unusual beads at the village's.

Kazuri sell bags of loose stones... sizes, shapes, etc. Visit their workshop, meet the women, learn how the items are made from clay, molding, painting, firing, etc.

Many of the camps have local Masai women who do beadwork for sale from the camp's souvenir shop.

Your NBO hotel and/or concierge should have a list of "Things to Do/See" where you might find another such shop with unique items.

Amboseli is actually quite a distance from Shompole.

Thanks to you both. Good idea, Sandi, to check with the concierge. We're booked through Gamewatchers, so they're also checking for me. I do hate the idea of lugging heavy beads with me from Amboseli through the next 3 Porini camps to Shompole. Is it likely that I'll find similar items for sale at both villages (Amboseli and Shompole) as well as each camp's store, which means I can just wait til Shompole to purchase, or will I find that each has different items that are local to that area? Claire

Depends on the village. Often the beads are similar though not sure these are availablle for purchase, but ask. Do have some small ziplock bags just in case the villages done have.

Otherwise Kazuri has some really nice stuff, different sizes, designs, colors, etc.

There are some villages that have women's programs. I was given a gift bracelet of "paper" beads strung on thin elastic string. Other programs make baskets out of paper scraps (very colorful)... though you'd never know it. The latter can actually be found in specialty shops in the States.

I bought some Kazuri beads. Just walking into that shop was magical. Alas somehow the necklace and earrings never made it home w/ me although I still have the hair clip and a bracelet.

Is there any place here in the US that sells them? I tried on line but did not come up w/ much!

On previous trips, Kazuri had loose beads but on our trip last year, they didn't. It may just have been our poor luck on that particular day. We bought lots of stringed beads :)

Here's one US online retailer for you.

http://www.kazuriamerica.com/

Kazuri-America will give you an idea of their product, but they have limited styles; prices are also way way higher than if purchased in Kenya.

There is the main Kazuri Shop/Factory located in Karen. Then a few shops around Nairobi, one of which is at Viking House in Westlands. There maybe other shops in some of the shopping malls.

Thanks for the web address. The prices are high!!! Wow!! Hmmm?? I wonder if a trip back to Kenya would be cheaper!! :) Anyway thanks......Now to browse and order!

By strange coincidence, I was just in a bead store last week that had a display of these beads, sold individually, along with a description of the mission, etc. of this group. Quite impressive and really worthwhile supporting.

How long is the drive from the Nairobi airport to the factory in Karen? If we went by taxi, any idea what it would cost? How hard would it be to get a taxi back into town from there? I don't suppose shipping from the factory is a reliable option, so maybe Gamewatchers can hold my purchases for us until our last day. If the link above is typical of what I'll find, I fear I'll buy up the factory! Claire