Handicraft Center, Dschang, Cameroon, Africa

The Handicraft Center

The Handicraft Center promotes the traditional arts and culture of Dschang and its surrounding communities. The Center was founded in 2000 by Fonwouo, a talented and articulate basket maker, artist, and teacher. The center is located in front of the Dschang Urban Council (Hotel de Ville). Although currently consisting of a small shop, Fonwouo hopes that the center will grow. He also hopes that basketmakers and people interested in the crafts of Western Cameroon will contact him, as he is quite isolated from the rest of the world and is very interested in exchanging ideas and selling Cameroonian arts and crafts. Fonwouo is also willing to travel and teach basketmaking to anyone who will sponsor him. Besides English and French, he also speaks Bahouan, his native language, and 8 other Cameroonian languages.

Basket bottom	Basket top	Finished raphia baskets by Fonwou


Beadworking is a traditional local craft. Fonwouo encourages the beaders by selling their work at the center. Almost any surface can be beaded, including wooden bracelets, Fonwouo's baskets and gourds!

For more information about the Handicraft Center, or to place an order (orders must be paid for in advance with Western Union), please contact Fonwouo (in English or French) at:

The Handicraft Center
Artisanat de l’Hotel de Ville
P.O. Box 258
Dschang
West Province
Republic of Cameroon
Africa

Telephone: (237) 526-2812

email: Fonwouo

For more about raphia baskets, see "Raphia Palm Basketmaking in Western Cameroon, Africa," in SHUTTLE, SPINDLE, & DYEPOT, Winter 2003/2004, 21-24.


Dyed and hand woven raphia bags


Bracelets and letter openers		Carved and shaped horn


Lamps