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January 15th, 2010 at 6:35 pm

We wondered if you would ask, but we also wanted to tell you before you did…………..about the products we have Kijiji Republic.

 

 

Our desire is to be able to have a one stop shop for African hand made products. As we strive to carry items that are handmade we have also added items that represent the African people and the countries. Currently we have items from Uganda and Kenya.

 

The Ugandan place mats are made of a fine weave of river grass. The Kenyan kiondos are made of sisal and the kikoys are made of 100% cotton. The kiondos are dyed with natural dyes which are environmental friendly. Some of the jewelry is made of cow bone, porcupine quills, or river grass and the hairclips are made of cow horn. The artisans are not only creative but also environmental conscious.

 

The Kiondo

 

The "kiondo” is the traditional basket that was once used for gathering food in by the local communities in Kenya. The "kiondo" has evolved to be a ladies favorite basket. Kiondos are now made in the form of purses, shopping baskets or even mini carry on baskets. The kiondos are made of sisal and handmade by the local women. The women have perfected the art of making kiondos to the extent that every now and again they coming up with new designs that meet the current fashions. Kiondos are a perfect symbol of Kenya’s women basketry skills. For the women this is a sign of creativeness and ingenuity.

  

Kenyan Tea

 

An East African Swahili proverb says "Kizuri cha jiuza, kibaya cha  jitembeza" A good think sell itself and a bad thing walks alone. Kenya is known to have the world’s best tea. It is so great that it is use to blend other teas in other parts of world. Kenya’s uniqueness of being on the equator and also having its tea grow in the highlands gives is some advantages. The tea is handpicked and only the best make it to the market. That is the reason we bring you the best of Kenyan tea, either as tea bags or loose leaf tea. Our brands of Ketepa and Safari are so great that they are our number one selling product

  

 

Uganda Placemats

 

The Uganda women are known for their creativity and ability to turn river grass into beautiful placemats that are biodegradable and heat resistant. They have tree bark on the underside. These represent a great piece as a gift for they are light and durable.

 

                                                                                                                                                               

 

Coming Soon

 

In the next coming months we will be launching two products, the safari boot and African Coffees.

 

The word “Safari” (Swahili word for journey) has its roots in East Africa and has been used to depict the great adventures  of seeing the Kenya wildlife in its true habitat. Kenya is known for the great Safaris in the Tsavo, Maasai Mara, Amboseli and Serengeti. It is the home of the big five; mainly the Elephant, Rhino, Cheetah, Buffalo and Lion, not to mention the great migration of the wildebeests.  The Safari Boot…………………… “the shoe that says you know Africa”,  represent this great adventure.

 

In a month’s time we will be introducing the Safari boot. No safari would be complete without a great pair ………….

 

The safari boot has upper leather and a flex yet tough sole that make it easy to walk in. You will always standout when you wear a safari boot especially when you match it with a pair of khaki pants.

To avoid missing your pair during the introduction period do send an email your interest to kabugu@kijijirepublic.com , order@kijijirepublic.com or visit the website page

 

 

As we continue to represent the African products, African is know for it great coffees, especially those from Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda. We will be introducing these products as we share with you the experience of having great coffee. The coffees are mainly grown by small scale farmers whose mainly livelihood is for the sale of coffee. What a great way to promote the sustainability of this farmers by selling their products.

 

 

 

 

 
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October 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm

 

This is the first blog which will be focusing on the story behind the formation of Kijiji Republic.
 
My wife and I were shopping at the "Friday Market" in Nairobi for some unique Kenyan handmade jewelry and clothing. We scouted the entire market and every stand had some unique and beautiful jewelry, hand curving or some Kenyan apparel.
 
Once we were done with the shopping we began to reminisce over a cup of coffee at the Nairobi Java House. The “Friday market” got its name since it operated only Fridays at a specific place in the city where tourists were able to come and buy souvenirs. We concluded that some of the people were only able to come to sell their products only on Fridays and at the market and their sales proceeds do not enable them meet their daily needs. We therefore decided that it would be a great idea to try and help out by sourcing the products and selling to the US and Canadian markets.
 
We therefore thought of a name that would be unique and be representative of the African continent. That is why we came up with the name “Kijiji Republic”. “Kijiji” is a Swahili word that means village. Since each country in Africa has a village “Kijiji” would therefore suffice. “Republic” was to signify independence. In Africa, every village is rich and diverse in culture as well as skills. The villagers express themselves in various forms of songs and dances, as well as a variety of art. The richness therefore allows the artisans to showcase their cultures, skills and thoughts through various forms of arts and crafts.
 
While there are many places where one can buy arts and crafts that are handmade, no one gets to think of the small scale micro enterprise artisan who is not in a co-operative. The individual mother or father who has to sell his/her wares in order to pay fees; feed the family; needs finances for medical needs and has only one day to sell his/her wares. The artisan who believes that as a sole entrepreneur can also get out of poverty and meet daily family needs. This is where kijiji Republic comes in to fill the gap. We purchase the products from the seller at a price set by the seller. We ensure that they are of high quality and can be sold to a future customer. This is what makes as different form the rest of the crowd.
 
 African is known to be the cradle of mankind. With this come diverse and rich cultures of art. While there are other artisans around the world, we focused on Africa because we want to restore the glory of Africa. Africa is a continent rich with all sorts of wealth, however it continue to be hardest hit will poverty, diseaseses, political unrests and low levels of education.
 
Kijiji Republic will therefore endeavor to meet its mission and vision to help the African people.
 
We strive to Give hope, change lives and build bright futures.
 
Do you want to be part of Kijiji Republic? 
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