Cape Verde: Artisans who braid or knit all the plants in the country

Palm trees, sisal, and banana trees as raw materials

Cape Verde is an archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean, off the west coast of Africa. Palm trees, sisal, and bananas have played an important role in the country’s culture and economy: palm oil production, rope and sisal carpet manufacturing, banana export… These plants, still very present, are now used by artisans to make various objects: bags, baskets, bowls, hats, shoes, furniture… Many artisans still have the know-how to select plants, transform them, braid them, and make durable and biodegradable objects.