Boutique Sokofa
Sacs, bijoux, chaussures et accessoires du quotidien faits main par des artisans, pensés pour accompagner la mode africaine.
187 items
Fashion Accessories
A hand beaded top handle bag in emerald green, built bead by bead over a curved frame and finished with a moulded flower ornament in white and yellow at the handle. It comes in two colourways and they are genuinely different bags. Multi Green is the busier one, faceted green beads scattered with yellow and orange petal beads and real cowrie shells, so it carries a whole outfit on its own. Solid Emerald Green is the quieter one, a single depth of faceted emerald beads with the MLUMUN nameplate on the front, and it is the one to choose if you want the bag to read as jewellery rather than as the statement. Both photographs show the actual bags, one colourway each. Every bead is threaded by hand onto the frame, so the surface is not perfectly uniform and no two bags come out identical. Wipe with a dry cloth. Store it out of direct sun so the beads keep their colour, and lift it by the body rather than by the flower.
Sold by Mlumun • Lagos, Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
A small red top handle bag, beaded entirely by hand in Nigeria. Velvet is the maker's name for this deep red. Every surface is built from transparent faceted beads that catch the light from every angle, and a scatter of red leaf shaped beads climbs one side of the bag and spills over the edge, so it reads almost like a bouquet held by its stems. The two short handles are beaded in the same red and stand up on their own. It is a bag for evenings, weddings and parties, sized for a phone, keys, cards and a lipstick. If your outfit is plain black or white, this is the piece that does the talking. The bag measures 15 x 15 x 5cm, as the maker gives it, not counting the handles. Care: keep it away from sharp objects and do not crush it in a full bag. Wipe the beads with a soft dry cloth.
Sold by Beadsbyraysul • Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
A set of three handmade Ankara tote bags in assorted African prints. Each bag measures about 39cm high, 35cm wide and 4cm deep, with black webbing straps fitted on metal clips, and each comes in a different wax print pattern, so the set covers shopping days, work bags and gifts in one go. They are sewn in Nsawam, Ghana by Ancient Culture, and the prints are chosen to celebrate the bold colour and creativity of African textile traditions. Lightweight and practical for everyday shopping, work, travel, cultural events and gifting. Because the set is assorted, the exact three patterns you receive may vary with available fabric, which makes every set unique.
Sold by Unite Root Africa • Ghana
Fashion Accessories
A handmade rope necklace of white pearl beads wrapped in black seed beads that spiral all the way round it, finished with a silver tone clasp. The most formal of the maker's pearl twists, made for a black dress, evening wear or a monochrome wardrobe. Two lines of black beads wind around the pearls in crisp stripes, so the necklace reads graphic and sharp rather than sweet, and it goes with anything black or white you already own. It sits close and full at the base of the neck. It fastens with a silver tone lobster clasp and a short extender chain, both visible in the first photograph, so it can sit a little higher or lower. If you want colour instead, the same twist is also made in pink and white, and in green and white. Care: keep it dry and away from perfume, and store it laid flat or loosely coiled so the spiral keeps its shape.
Sold by Mulembe beads • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A chunky Maasai beaded bangle, glass seed beads wound solidly around a rigid core. You receive one bangle in the colour you choose from the picker. The photographs show the white one, its surface broken by narrow multicolour accent bands, and the same design is made in red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. The beads go right around with no clasp or opening, so it slips over the hand and sits with a pleasing weight; the maker gives the size as 20 cm around, so check it against a bangle you already own. Wear one on its own or stack colours, which is how they are worn in Kenya. Made by hand in Kenya. Wipe with a dry cloth and keep perfume off the beads.
Sold by Tribal Shop • Kenya
Fashion
A wide Maasai beaded cuff, around ten rows of glass seed beads deep, banded in red, green, orange, white and black and fastening with press studs on a leather tab. The beads are strung in rows and held in line by slim spacer strips running down the cuff, which is what stops a band this deep from collapsing on the wrist. The leather tab carries the studs, so it opens flat and goes on without help. The maker gives the length as 20cm. If you want something for every day, the narrower wrist cuff in this shop is the easier piece. This one is for when you want the beadwork to be the thing people see.
Sold by Tribal Shop • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A handmade beaded bangle worked in black seed beads, with gold beadwork laid over it in a repeating leaf pattern and small faceted stones set into each one. It is the quiet one in this maker's range. The black ground keeps it wearable with almost anything, and the gold does the work, so it reads as jewellery rather than as craft, which is not true of every beaded bracelet. The bangle is closed rather than fastened, so it slides over the hand and there is no clasp to catch or fail. Dhahabu is the Swahili word for gold. The maker gives the diameter as 7cm. Every bead is threaded by hand, so the pattern will sit slightly differently on each one. Keep it away from perfume and lotion, which dull the gold finish, and store it apart from harder jewellery that can chip the stones.
Sold by Mulembe beads • Kenya
Crafts
Flat leather sandals from Nairobi with a beaded butterfly worked across the toe strap in copper, white and multicoloured glass beads. The butterfly is the reason to buy these. It is built up bead by bead and sewn onto the strap, not printed and not glued on, so the wings catch the light as you walk and no two pairs are spaced quite the same. The body is worked in rows of copper toned beads and the wings in mixed colours, and the whole piece sits proud of the leather. Underneath it is a plain, well made sandal. A stitched leather footbed with a tooled border, a toe post and a slim strap across the instep, and a leather sole. Nothing on the foot but leather and beads. The photographs show the brown colourway. Black is also available from the colour options. Choose your usual UK size. Wipe the leather with a dry cloth and keep the beadwork out of water.
Sold by Alpha Threads Fashions • NAIROBI
Fashion Accessories
A pair of wide wrist cuffs, one in plain brass toned wire and one threaded with royal blue glass beads, each built from many wires bound together at both ends. Worn together they read as one deep band of gold and blue across the wrist, which is what the first photograph shows. Worn apart, the plain half goes with anything and the beaded half carries the colour, so the set does two jobs rather than one. If the rest of your jewellery is plain metal, this is the piece that adds the colour. Look at the second photograph for the construction. Each cuff is a run of parallel wires gathered at both ends and wrapped, with a loop terminal at each corner, so it holds its shape and slips over the wrist rather than fastening. On the blue half the beads are threaded along each wire one wire at a time, which is the slow part of the work. Made from brass finished jewellery wire and glass seed beads. The maker gives an inner diameter of 5 to 5.2 inches, a standard slip on fit. Keep away from water and perfume, and store it flat.
Sold by NICKÉ JEWELRY • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A five piece Maasai beaded set on lilac purple, with yellow sawtooth points and bands of orange, green, turquoise and yellow. Necklace, three bracelets and earrings. Includes one multi strand collar necklace, three matching bracelets and one pair of drop earrings. Purple is close to unheard of in this kind of beadwork, and lilac more so. The traditional palette runs to red, blue, green, white and black, so a pastel ground like this is a modern choice rather than an old one. That is the reason to buy it. Almost nobody else will be wearing one. It behaves differently from the rest of the range too. Every other set puts bright colour on a strong ground, so the whole piece pushes forward at you. Lilac pulls the other way. The bands still carry orange, green and turquoise, but they sit on something gentle, so this reads as decorative rather than as a statement you have to commit to for the whole evening. The points are picked out in yellow here rather than black, which is unusual. Most of the beadwork in this range uses black to cut the ground. This one uses yellow, so the sawtooth reads as a warm flare instead of a hard edge. It sits well with white, cream, grey, denim and the softer summer colours. Against hard black it loses the point of itself. The necklace is worked in multiple beaded strands and fastens at the back with a gold tone clasp and a short extender chain, so you can set it high on the collarbone or let it drop. The bracelets and earrings carry the same beads in the same colour order, which is what makes five separate pieces read as one set. Wear the necklace with a single bracelet for everyday, or all five pieces when you want the full effect. Strung and bound by hand in Kiambu, so the spacing of the points and the colour bands varies slightly from set to set and from the photographs. Care: keep away from perfume, lotion and water, all of which dull the beads and weaken the cord. Pale grounds mark more easily than dark ones, so put the set on last and take it off first. Store the necklace flat or hanging rather than folded into a box, and wipe with a dry soft cloth after wearing.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A five piece Maasai beaded set in bright green, banded with yellow, white, red and blue against black and finished in gold tone. Necklace, bracelets and earrings. Includes one multi strand collar necklace, three matching bracelets and one pair of drop earrings. Green is the colour almost nobody makes beaded jewellery in, and that is the reason to buy this one. Red, black and white sets are everywhere. A saturated grass green is not, so this reads as a specific choice rather than a default. It is also the fullest piece of Maasai colour work in the range. The green is broken by black sawtooth points, and inside them run bands of yellow, white, red and blue, each one separated again by black. That is the whole palette rather than an accent or two, which is why the set carries an outfit on its own. It wants a plain ground to sit against: white, cream, black, denim, or traditional dress cut in a single colour. Put it over another print and the two fight. The necklace is worked in multiple beaded strands and fastens at the back with a gold tone clasp and a short extender chain, so you can set it high on the collarbone or let it drop. The bracelets and earrings carry the same beads in the same colour order, which is what makes five separate pieces read as one set. Wear the necklace with a single bracelet for everyday, or all five pieces when you want the full effect. Strung and bound by hand in Kiambu. The sawtooth points are counted out bead by bead rather than measured, so their spacing shifts a little from set to set and from the photographs. Care: keep away from perfume, lotion and water, all of which dull the beads and weaken the cord. Store the necklace flat or hanging rather than folded into a box so the strands do not tangle, and wipe with a dry soft cloth after wearing.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A three piece beaded set in black, banded with red, orange, green, blue and white: a multi strand collar necklace, a matching bracelet and a pair of drop earrings. Black does something the brighter sets do not. It reads as jewellery rather than as costume, which means this one earns its place on an ordinary Tuesday as well as at a wedding. Wear all three pieces together when you want the full effect, or wear the bracelet and earrings on their own with a plain shirt and nobody would call it a lot. The colour sits in blocks against the black rather than running the whole way round, so the set has somewhere for the eye to land. The necklace fastens at the back with a gold tone clasp and a short extender chain, so you can set it higher on the collarbone or let it drop. The bracelet is built the same way, several bead wrapped strands bound into shared gold tone caps, and the earrings carry the same beads in the same colour order. Every strand is strung by hand, so the spacing of the colour bands varies slightly from set to set. Care: take the set off before perfume, lotion or water, all of which dull the beads and weaken the cord. Lay the necklace flat or hang it rather than folding it into a box, so the strands do not tangle. A dry soft cloth is all it needs.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A royal blue evening bag covered in long silky tassels, with a circular handle beaded in matching blue crystals and a satin lining gathered at the top. The whole point of this one is movement. The tassels are cut long enough to swing when you walk, which is why it reads as a column rather than as a box. If the rest of your outfit is plain, this is the Mlumun bag that does the work. The handle is a single closed ring, threaded bead by bead rather than glued, and the body is built on a firm base so the tassels hang straight instead of bunching. Both photographs show the same bag, from the front and from the side. Keep the tassels out of the rain and comb them straight with your fingers if they twist. Store it upright.
Sold by Mlumun • Lagos, Nigeria
Fashion
Handmade slip on shoes in two tone suede, tan through the middle with a darker brown toe cap and heel, on a brown rubber sole, made in Nigeria by Earlybird. The pair sits somewhere between a loafer and a trainer. There are no laces: elastic gussets either side of the opening let the shoe give as you step in and close back around the foot, and the collar is bound in dark brown for a neat edge. The toe cap and heel are cut from a deeper, brushed brown suede, while the smoother tan suede across the top carries the maker's own bird mark pressed into the leather. Wear them with chinos, jeans or linen trousers for weekends, travel and relaxed office days, or any time you want a shoe you can step into without bending down. Photographed in the brown colourway. The maker also offers black and red in the same pattern; those are not pictured, so ask the seller for a photograph before choosing one. Sizes 39 to 50. Sizes 47 to 50 carry a small extra charge, shown when you pick the size. Construction: suede and leather upper, padded interior and a rubber sole for grip, as listed by the maker. Care: brush the suede with a soft suede brush once dry and keep the shoes out of heavy rain. Let them dry naturally away from direct heat if they get wet.
Sold by Earlybird • Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
A wide handmade collar necklace in white and gold seed beads, netted into an open diamond lattice that fans out from the neckline over the collarbone and shoulders. It suits a bride, a wedding guest or anyone who wants one statement piece over a plain neckline. The neckline is worked in close rows of white with a fine gold line running through them. From there the beadwork opens into a lattice of white diamonds, with a single gold bead at every crossing and a gold drop at each point of the lower edge, so the collar catches the light as it moves. It fastens at the back with a silver tone lobster clasp and a short extender chain, which you can see in the first photograph, so it can sit a little higher or lower on the neck. The maker gives the neckline as 36cm around and the outer edge as 90cm around. Amani is the Swahili word for peace, a quiet echo of the store's own name: mulembe means peace in Lubukusu. Care: store it flat so the lattice keeps its shape, and keep it away from perfume and water.
Sold by Mulembe beads • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A hand beaded barrel bag in ivory pearl finish beads with clear faceted beads worked through it, carried by a beaded top handle in the same rows. The short, rounded barrel shape is where the name comes from, and it is what makes the bag read as a considered piece rather than another beaded clutch. It suits a wedding, a party or a dinner where a soft neutral works harder than a colour. Ivory sits with cream, champagne, gold and every shade of white, so it goes with the outfit you already own rather than one you have to buy for it. The beads are strung by hand in rows over a firm barrel body, so the bag holds its shape rather than slumping when you set it down, and the handle is beaded to match rather than added in cord or chain. The clear faceted beads are spaced through the pearl ones, which is what gives the surface its flicker under light. A small brass tone plate on the front carries the maker's name, Ciperles Handmade. Hold it by the body rather than the handle when it is full. Keep it in a dust bag, away from perfume and hairspray, and wipe it with a dry soft cloth.
Sold by Ciperles Handmade • Ghana
Fashion Accessories
A small black beaded top handle bag, built bead by bead until glossy petals, faceted chips and round beads cover the whole surface. It suits the evening where the outfit is plain and the bag is meant to be the thing people notice, so weddings, birthdays and dinners rather than every day. The handle is a short beaded loop carried in the hand or over the wrist, and a single beaded flower is worked into the point where the handle meets the body. It is made in seven colours, black, blue, brown, red, pink, gold and green, so choose your colour before adding it to the basket. The photographs show the black one. The maker gives the size as medium, 20cm by 7cm. Every bead is threaded by hand, so the packing of the beads and the lie of the petals differ a little from bag to bag. Keep it away from rough fabric and jewellery that can catch the beads, and support it from underneath when it is full.
Sold by Prechgold_crafts • Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
This women’s Ankara handbag is thoughtfully handmade with vibrant African print fabric that brings together culture, confidence, and everyday style. Designed for women who love bold, elegant accessories, this bag adds character and sophistication to any outfit. Strong finishing, quality craftsmanship, and eye-catching Ankara patterns make it both stylish and practical. Whether you are going to work, attending an event, or heading out casually, this handmade African print bag offers the right balance of beauty, durability, and function. Spacious enough for daily essentials and crafted to stand out, it is also a lovely gift for anyone who appreciates unique handmade fashion accessories. Why you’ll love it: * Handmade with authentic Ankara fabric * Durable and neatly finished * Stylish and practical for everyday use * Ideal for work, outings, events, and gifts Carry culture, style, and confidence wherever you go with this elegant Ankara handbag from Sokofa.
Sold by SWCU GLOBAL • Lagos
Fashion Accessories
A hand crocheted hat with a deep ruffled brim that frames the face. The crown is worked in close rows of crochet and the brim finishes in a full ruffle that sits in loose waves around the head, so it is the one bright thing an outfit needs with a plain top or a simple dress. Choose Multicoloured for a hat striped in bright mixed colours with a contrasting ruffle, as in the first photograph, or One colour for a hat worked in a single shade, like the black one in the second photograph. For One colour, message the seller after ordering with the colour you would like. Each hat is crocheted to order by hand, so the stripe order and colour mix on a multicoloured hat will differ from the photographs. It is one size, made to fit an adult head. If you would rather have a soft, fluffy ruffle, the same maker's purple Crochet Ruffled Hat is worked in a fleecy lilac yarn.
Sold by Stellz.Crochets • Lagos
Fashion Accessories
Handmade leather toe loop sandals in EU size 31, which is a child's size. Cut and stitched in Kenya in the classic Maasai style, they have a dark leather footbed and crossed strap with white contrast stitching right around the edge, a punched star pattern on the strap, and a loop that holds the big toe so the sandal stays on without a buckle. The leather is left plain rather than beaded, so the making is the whole look. They suit everyday wear, school holidays and travel, and they make a lovely gift for a child with Kenyan roots. If you need a different size, message the shop before ordering. Wipe clean with a damp cloth and air dry away from direct heat.
Sold by Tribal Shop • Kenya
Crafts
A handmade spiked beaded handbag in deep green with a pale yellow beaded handle. The rounded body is covered in pointed, faceted green beads set so the points face outward, giving it a spiked surface that catches the light in hard flashes rather than a soft shimmer. A thick arched handle of clear pale yellow beads rises over the top. It is a bold bag for an evening out, and it suits a darker outfit. Made by hand in Nigeria by The Mlumun Brand. Wipe with a dry cloth, and keep it away from fine knits, which the points can catch.
Sold by Mlumun • Lagos, Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
Handmade waist beads in cream glass seed beads, on one long strand with orange, teal and pink butterfly charms and a gold tone screw clasp. The seed beads have a soft pearly sheen, so the strand sits quietly against the skin, and the three small butterflies add just enough colour to catch the eye. It is a simple everyday strand rather than a statement piece, easy to wear on its own or alongside other waist beads. The maker gives the length as 100cm. It fastens with a small screw clasp at one length rather than a tie, so measure round the point where you will wear it before ordering. Made by hand in Kenya. Take it off before swimming or bathing, and undo the clasp gently rather than pulling on the strand.
Sold by Tribal Shop • Kenya
Fashion
A small blue top handle bag, built from flat marbled discs hung in overlapping rows, with a band and arched handle woven from faceted crystal beads. It is an occasion bag rather than a daily one. It holds a phone, a card holder and a lipstick, and it is meant to be the thing people look at against a plain outfit. The discs are the reason to choose this one over a flat beaded bag. Each one hangs from a short stem of tiny beads rather than being stitched down, so the whole surface swings and resettles as you walk and the light moves across it. The handle and the top band are a different piece of work altogether, a dense lattice of faceted beads woven tight enough to hold the shape of the arch on its own. This listing is the blue one, which is what the photographs show and what you will receive. If you want the same idea in another colour, the Nenye bag from the same maker is the smooth marble disc version and is offered in several shades. The maker gives the size as 23cm high and 18cm wide, and lists the materials as beads, sand beads and flat marble beads. Every disc and every bead is threaded on by hand, so no two bags are packed quite alike. The discs hang free, so keep the bag away from knitwear and from jewellery that can catch them, store it in a dust bag rather than loose in a wardrobe, and wipe it with a dry soft cloth.
Sold by Prechgold_crafts • Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
A beautifully handcrafted three-piece beaded jewellery set featuring the timeless peyote beadwork technique. The set includes matching earrings, a necklace, and bracelet, designed to create a coordinated and elegant look. Handmade in Kenya • Elegant • Lightweight • Versatile
Sold by Mulembe beads • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A five piece Maasai beaded set in navy blue. One multi strand collar necklace, three matching bracelets and a pair of drop earrings, strung by hand in Kiambu. Includes one multi strand collar necklace, three matching bracelets and one pair of drop earrings. Navy is the one you can wear to work. The rest of this range is built to be seen from across a room, which is exactly right for a wedding and exactly wrong for a Tuesday. Navy does the opposite. It reads as jewellery rather than as an occasion, so it sits with a suit, a plain shirt or a dark dress without announcing itself before you do. It is also the easiest piece in the range to wear if you are new to beadwork. Navy sits close enough to black that the shape and the scale register before the colour does, so a collar this size stops feeling like a leap and starts feeling like a good necklace. The necklace is worked in multiple beaded strands and fastens at the back with a clasp and a short extender chain, so you can set it high on the collarbone or let it drop. The bracelets and earrings carry the same beadwork in the same order, which is what makes five separate pieces read as one set rather than five things that happen to match. Wear the necklace with a single bracelet for everyday, or all five pieces when you want the full effect. Strung and bound by hand in Kiambu. Every strand is counted out bead by bead rather than measured, so the beadwork shifts a little from set to set and from the photographs. Care: keep away from perfume, lotion and water, all of which dull the beads and weaken the cord. Store the necklace flat or hanging rather than folded into a box so the strands do not tangle, and wipe with a dry soft cloth after wearing.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A round hand beaded bag with an arched beaded handle and a drawstring satin pouch inside, made in two colourways, gold amber and onyx black. The open beadwork is what sets this one apart from the rest of the range. The beads are threaded into a net rather than packed solid, so the lining shows through the gaps and the bag changes with the light. Gold amber glows warm and suits an evening. Onyx black is the one that disappears into a smart outfit and goes anywhere. There is no fabric shell under the beads on the body: the net is the bag, and the satin pouch inside pulls closed with a drawstring so a phone and keys sit safely behind the beadwork. Both photographs show the actual bags, one colourway each. Wipe with a dry cloth and store it out of direct sun so the beads keep their colour.
Sold by Mlumun • Lagos, Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
Add a touch of African craftsmanship to your gifting with this handcrafted jute gift bag by Dammyglory Crafts. Made from natural, eco-friendly jute fibre, this sustainable tote bag is perfect for wrapping presents, corporate event favours, wedding souvenirs, and special occasion packaging. Each bag is carefully handmade by skilled African artisans, ensuring quality craftsmanship and a unique, rustic charm that makes every gift feel extra special. The durable jute material is both sturdy and biodegradable, making it an excellent choice for environmentally conscious shoppers and businesses looking for sustainable packaging solutions. These versatile jute bags can be customised for corporate branding, personalised event gifting, or festive occasions. Their natural texture and earthy aesthetic add a warm, authentic feel to any presentation. Whether you are planning a wedding, hosting a corporate event, or simply want an eco-friendly alternative to plastic gift bags, this handcrafted jute tote is the perfect choice.
Sold by Dammyglory Crafts • Lagos State
Fashion
A full grain cowhide leather duffel bag in deep coffee brown, with a zipped end pocket. The Msafiri is a weekend and business travel bag with generous room inside and clean, structured lines. The leather has a matte finish and the frame is rigid, so the bag keeps its shape when packed and protects what is inside. It is handmade in Kenya: the parts are made by artisans in Kenya and each bag is assembled in Nairobi by Hellen Nduku, founder of Kifaru Leather. The Kifaru rhino mark is embossed on the front. Details Full grain cowhide leather, matte finish Heavy duty metal zips and contrast stitching Two carry handles, a clip on shoulder strap and a leather luggage tag Zipped end pocket, big enough for a pair of shoes Size: 50 x 24 x 25cm Care: wipe clean with a soft dry cloth and keep it away from direct heat.
Sold by Kifaru Leather • Kenya
Fashion
Handmade leather thong sandals with a brown suede footbed and a cushioned black sole. The wide full grain leather straps meet at a soft toe post that sits flat between the toes, the contoured footbed is lined in suede so it grips without rubbing, and the rubber tread underneath is cut for wet and dry ground. They dress up with linen trousers as easily as they loaf with shorts. The photographs show the black pair; the same design is made in red, and sizes run from EU 39 to 47 in the picker. Designed and handmade in Nigeria by the Earlybird leather workshop, with the maker's mark embossed in the footbed. Wipe the leather with a soft cloth and keep the suede dry.
Sold by Earlybird • Nigeria
African products
A handmade Ghanaian bracelet of chunky glass disc beads in one solid colour, strung on a white cord and made to suit men and women alike. The photograph shows the yellow bracelet. It also comes in green and in red, which you choose from the colour options; those two are not pictured, so ask the seller if you would like to see them first. The beads are made in the Krobo style of Ghana's Eastern Region, thick flat discs with a soft matte finish, stacked side by side all the way round so the bracelet reads as one solid ring of colour. It is a simple piece to wear every day on its own, or to stack with other beads for a cultural occasion, and it makes an easy gift for anyone who loves West African beadwork. Size: about 20.3cm (8 inches) around, with beads about 2.5cm across. Construction: glass beads threaded onto a white textile cord and tied with a knot. Care: keep it dry, wipe it with a soft cloth, and store it flat so the cord keeps its shape.
Sold by GOLDEN HERITAGE AFRICA GALLERY • Cape Coast
Fashion Accessories
A handmade rope necklace of red, green, black and white pearl beads twisted in a spiral, in the colours of the Kenyan flag, finished with a silver tone lobster clasp. Made for Jamhuri Day, Madaraka Day, a Kenyan wedding or anyone who wants to wear home. Fahari is the Swahili word for pride. Bands of red, green and black pearl beads wind around the rope, each edged with small white beads the way the flag edges its colours in white, so it reads as Kenya at a glance without spelling it out. It sits close and full at the base of the neck. The first photograph shows the necklace itself, with the clasp at the top. If you prefer one colour with white, the same twist is made in pink, green, and black. Care: keep it dry and away from perfume, and store it laid flat or loosely coiled so the spiral keeps its shape.
Sold by Mulembe beads • Kenya
Crafts
A handwoven sisal tote in two bands of cream and natural, with long tan leather shoulder straps, a printed cotton lining and a wooden button fastening. It is a real market basket rather than a basket shaped handbag, so it holds a laptop, a towel or a shop without losing its shape, and the straps are long enough to sit on the shoulder over a coat. The sisal is stiff enough to stand up on its own when you put it down, which is the difference between this and a soft straw bag. The lining is the part worth knowing about. Each bag is lined in printed cotton and the maker uses what she has, so no two linings are the same. The bag in the first photograph is lined with several different prints pieced together, navy with pink, gold and white figures. The bag in the second photograph has a single brown and gold print. Yours will be lined in a print of its own. The body is twined by hand from natural sisal fibre. The leather straps are riveted through the weave with copper rivets rather than stitched to a fabric tab, which is the join that usually fails on a basket bag. A wooden button on a leather cord fastens the top. It measures about 32cm wide and 32cm tall, excluding the handles. Bags are flattened for shipping to keep the parcel small. This does no harm, as sisal springs back into shape once it is unpacked. Do not soak the bag. Wipe it with a dry or barely damp cloth and store it somewhere dry.
Sold by KIKWETU MAASAI STORES • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
Beaded drop earrings built as a half flower: four padded petals in black, red, green and white around a coiled gold tone centre, edged bead by bead in gold and hung from a gold tone hook. Of the beadwork in this shop, this is the pair that says Kenya at a glance. The four petal colours are the four colours of the Kenyan flag and they are laid out plainly, so the piece is read across a room rather than explained up close. If you want that, this is the pair. If you would rather the colours were there without announcing themselves, the Infinity knot pair from the same maker sets the same colours into a knot that reads as a graphic shape first. Each petal is worked over a form so it sits domed rather than flat, with a raised line of gold beads down the spine and a picot edge of single gold beads all the way round. That edge is the slow part, added one bead at a time after the petal is finished. The beads are the small glass seed beads sold across Kenya as Maasai beads, which is the maker's own term for them. The flower pattern is the maker's own, not a traditional motif. Keep them dry, take them off before swimming, and store them flat so the petals keep their shape.
Sold by Mulembe beads • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A handmade drop earring built on a fuchsia pink button, with a pale pink rose and small green leaves hanging below it on gold tone wire. These earrings belong to EHC, The Earring That Heard The Conversation. The buttons once held clothes together and now sit by the ear, listening in. That is the whole idea of the piece, something ordinary moved to where it can be noticed. If you want a piece that reads as flowers first and jewellery second, this is the one to pick. The roses are translucent, so they catch the light rather than block it, and the green leaves keep the pink from going sugary. Wear it against a plain colour and let it be the only thing going on. About 6.5cm long. Made by hand in Ibadan, Nigeria. Keep it away from perfume and water, and store it flat.
Sold by LEŌN & CISCA • Ibadan
Fashion Accessories
Buchi Leather Penny Loafers, handmade for men in premium top-grain pebble leather. Timeless, versatile, and expertly crafted: the Snugfeet Classic Penny Loafers for Men are designed for effortless sophistication. Handcrafted from premium top-grain leather with a refined pebble grain texture, these loafers offer the perfect balance of durability, comfort, and classic style. The rich pebble leather finish enhances the character of the shoe. Featuring the iconic penny strap across the vamp, this classic design delivers a polished appearance suitable for both professional and casual settings. Built with comfort in mind, the soft leather upper gradually moulds to your feet, while the slip-on construction ensures convenience and ease throughout your day. Whether worn to the office, formal events, or styled casually, these loafers are a dependable wardrobe essential for the modern gentleman.
Sold by SNUGFEET INTERNATIONAL • Lagos
Fashion Accessories
A wide, flat collar necklace netted by hand from white seed beads, crossed with diagonal stripes of gold coloured beads and fastened with a gold tone clasp. The beads are worked into an open lattice, so the collar lies flat around the base of the neck and lets a little skin show through the net. The gold stripes run the whole way round at an angle, which gives the piece movement without adding colour. White and gold go with almost anything, so this is the collar for a wedding, a celebration or a plain dark dress that needs one strong piece. The maker gives it as about 40cm long and 1.5cm wide. It closes with a lobster clasp between two gold tone ball ends. If you prefer a rounded rope to a flat collar, the Pearl Twist necklaces from the same maker are the other shape to look at. Care: keep it dry, store it flat so the net keeps its shape, and wipe it gently with a soft cloth.
Sold by Mulembe beads • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
Handmade flower earrings in white and silver lined seed beads, built up in raised layered petals around a faceted silver bead at the centre, on silver tone fish hook ear wires. A soft, bright pair for a wedding, bridal wear or a plain outfit that wants one detail. The white beads give the petals their body and the silver lined beads trace each edge, so the flower sparkles without any metal showing. The first photograph is a single earring on a wooden table, which shows the beadwork close up as it really is. If you want warmer tones, the same Neema flower is also made in white and gold. Care: keep them dry and away from perfume, and store them so the petals are not crushed.
Sold by Mulembe beads • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
Handmade beaded earrings worked as an interwoven triangular knot in black and gold seed beads, on gold tone hooks. The knot is the point of them. Three loops pass over and under each other so the bands appear to weave through, which gives the piece real depth at a size that stays small and light. It is a harder thing to bead than a flat panel, and it shows. Zuri means beautiful in Swahili. At 2.5cm square these are the everyday pair in the range rather than a statement, the ones that go on without thought and still look considered. The maker gives the size as 2.5 by 2.5cm. Every bead is threaded by hand, so the two knots sit slightly differently and neither will match the photographs exactly. Keep them away from perfume, and store them flat.
Sold by Mulembe beads • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
Handmade beaded drop earrings in a pointed leaf shape, worked in white seed beads with a gold beaded outline and a gold line tracing the shape again inside, on plated hooks. Zuri means beautiful in Swahili, and these are the restrained pair in the range. There is no stone and no pattern, just two colours and a shape, which is why they carry from daytime to evening better than the flower pairs do. The drop is open at the centre rather than filled, so they are light on the ear and they move when you do. White and gold sits against almost anything, and it is the safer of the two colourways if most of your wardrobe is already busy. If your wardrobe runs dark, the black and gold Zuri is the better buy of the two. The maker gives the drop as 6cm by 3cm. Every bead is threaded by hand, so the two earrings differ a little from each other. Keep them away from perfume, and store them flat.
Sold by Mulembe beads • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
Handmade beaded flower earrings from Kenya, worked in the black, red, green and white of the Kenyan flag with a faceted blue bead at the centre. Each flower is built by hand from small glass beads threaded into loops that spiral out from the middle, so the white arms cross over the red, green and black underneath and the shape holds without any metal frame behind it. Faceted silver tone beads sit around the outer edge and catch the light when you move. They hang from plain hook fittings. The four colours are the national flag. Black stands for the people, red for the blood shed in the fight for independence, green for the land, and white for peace and honesty. The store is called Mulembe beads, and mulembe is the Luhya word for peace, so the white beads and the maker's own greeting are saying the same thing. They are a statement pair, so they sit best against a plain top or a plain dress. Keep them dry, put them on after perfume or lotion, and store them flat so the beaded arms stay in line.
Sold by Mulembe beads • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A two piece set in white and gold beadwork: a brass cuff carrying a large round beaded disc, and a matching adjustable ring with a smaller disc in the same pattern. The disc on the cuff is beaded in concentric rings of white and metallic gold seed beads, worked outward from a single centre bead, with a beaded edge running right around the rim. The ring repeats the pattern at a fraction of the size, which is the harder of the two to make: the same rings have to fall into a disc that sits on a finger. Both pieces are built on brass. The cuff is an open band that slips over the wrist rather than fastening, and the ring band is open at the back so it adjusts to the finger. White and gold is the version of this beadwork that goes with everything. It sits as easily against a white shirt and jeans as it does against a wedding outfit, which is not true of the brighter colourways. Each disc is beaded by hand, so the spacing of the gold rings varies slightly between sets. Care: keep away from perfume, lotion and water. Brass darkens naturally with wear, and a soft dry cloth brings the shine back.
Sold by NICKÉ JEWELRY • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
Handmade tan leather flat sandals with a wide black and white beaded ankle cuff and a toe strap of beaded medallions in the same monochrome pattern. Black and white is the beaded sandal that behaves like a neutral. It carries the handmade detail and the pattern without committing to a colour, so it sits with everything in the way a bright pair cannot, which makes it the sensible first beaded pair to own. The ankle cuff is a broad panel of fine seed beads in a bold geometric black and white pattern, and the toe strap steps down in beaded medallions to a leather post. The footbed is tan leather with a stitched edge. Every bead is threaded and stitched by hand. Wipe the leather with a dry cloth, keep the beads away from perfume, and store the pair flat so the cuff holds its shape.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A two piece set in brass toned metal: an open cuff built from two parallel bars joined by a bridge, and a matching adjustable ring, each carrying an oval panel of hand woven cream and gold seed beads. Look at the second photograph for the construction. The cuff is not a solid band. It is two bars held apart by a vertical strut, so most of what sits on the wrist is skin rather than metal and the beaded oval floats above that gap. It is a lighter and more architectural look than a plain cuff, and it is why the set reads as designed rather than simply decorated. The beadwork is cream white with a line of gold running through the centre of each oval, worked row by row. The cuff is open at the back so it slips on, and the maker gives a fit of 5.5 to 7.5 inch wrists. The ring is adjustable. Keep away from water and perfume, and store the two pieces apart so the beadwork does not catch on the cuff.
Sold by NICKÉ JEWELRY • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A five piece Maasai beaded set in turquoise blue with black sawtooth points and bands of yellow, white, green and red. Necklace, three bracelets and earrings. Includes one multi strand collar necklace, three matching bracelets and one pair of drop earrings. If you pictured Maasai beadwork before you opened this page, this is probably close to what you saw. Turquoise against black is the pairing the work is known for, and it is the one that reads as Maasai from across a room instead of needing to be explained. It is also the easiest of the bright sets to wear outdoors. Turquoise holds its colour in daylight where deeper shades flatten out, so it photographs well and it sits over denim, white linen or cream without any effort at all. This is the summer and holiday piece in the range. The blue is broken by black sawtooth points, and inside them run bands of yellow, white, green and red. The points are counted out bead by bead rather than measured, which is why the teeth are never quite even and why the piece looks made rather than manufactured. The necklace is worked in multiple beaded strands and fastens at the back with a gold tone clasp and a short extender chain, so you can set it high on the collarbone or let it drop. The bracelets and earrings carry the same beads in the same colour order, which is what makes five separate pieces read as one set rather than five things that happen to match. Wear the necklace with a single bracelet for everyday, or all five pieces when you want the full effect. Strung and bound by hand in Kiambu, so the spacing of the sawtooth points and the colour bands varies slightly from set to set and from the photographs. Care: keep away from perfume, lotion and water, all of which dull the beads and weaken the cord. Store the necklace flat or hanging rather than folded into a box so the strands do not tangle, and wipe with a dry soft cloth after wearing.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A 3-pack canvas tote bag set with a minimalist line-art design and black webbing handles, made for daily errands, books, and shopping. Unisex fit, sized for everyday carrying rather than as a statement art piece. This is the unisex minimalist line-art version from Macaw House, available in 12x14, 14x16, and 16x18 inch sizes at £45 for the 3-pack.
Sold by Macaw House • Lagos
Fashion Accessories
The MMA Bag by Modestmadeit is a beautifully handcrafted accessory that brings together premium Guinea leather and traditional Nigerian Aso Oke cotton fabric. This unique heritage bag is more than just an accessory, it is a story of craftsmanship, culture, and timeless design. The full-grain leather forms a robust foundation that develops a unique patina over time, becoming distinctly yours with every journey. The Aso Oke fabric, traditionally handwoven on narrow-strip looms in Nigeria, features intricate geometric patterns that often symbolise unity, loyalty, and wisdom. Together, these materials create a bag that honours artisanal heritage while delivering modern functionality. Available in medium and small sizes, the MMA Bag features detachable handles that allow it to transform between a crossbody bag and a handheld clutch. This versatile design makes it perfect for everyday use, cultural events, and special occasions. Ideal for fashion-forward individuals who appreciate authentic African craftsmanship, sustainable materials, and accessories with a meaningful story behind them.
Sold by Modestmadeit • Lagos
Fashion Accessories
A handmade crochet crossbody bag in mustard, cream and dark brown, from Kenya. The body is crocheted in three bold bands, mustard at the top, cream through the middle and dark brown at the base, and an embroidered patch of red flowers and green leaves is sewn onto the cream band. A zip closes the top and the inside is lined in soft white fabric. The brown faux leather strap clips on with bronze tone swivel clasps and has a buckle, so it adjusts to wear on the shoulder or across the body. The bag is about 22cm by 20cm and the strap adjusts up to 120cm, as the maker gives it. This is a single bag, made by an independent maker in Kenya.
Sold by Majda'sStore • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A hammered brass claw pendant on a black cord necklace. The claw is a slim curved point, hammered along its length and finished at the top with a ridged brass cap and ring, below a neat wrapped knot. Two sliding knots at the back adjust the length; the maker gives it as 30cm. It is brass all the way through, so you get the look of a claw necklace with no animal part in it. Care: brass darkens naturally over time; a soft dry cloth brings back the shine. Keep the cord dry.
Sold by AfroGlam Jewels • Kenya
Guide d'achat
Les accessoires sont le moyen le plus simple de faire entrer l'artisanat africain dans une garde-robe de tous les jours. Les perles de taille portent des siècles de sens dans la culture ouest-africaine : on les porte pour célébrer, pour être à l'écoute de son corps, ou simplement parce qu'elles sont belles. Les bijoux faits main vont des pièces fortes en laiton recyclé aux délicates perles maasaï, tandis que les sacs en cuir et les cabas doublés d'Ankara marient matériaux traditionnels et formes modernes.
Quand vous choisissez des bijoux ou des perles faits main, les petites variations font partie de l'intérêt : deux rangs de perles de verre cuites à la main ne sont jamais identiques, et le laiton se pare d'une patine chaude en le portant. Les photos montrent une pièce représentative, et les notes de l'artisan signalent tout ce qui peut varier.
Tout ce qui figure dans cette catégorie est expédié dans le monde entier par des artisans indépendants, et comme les accessoires voyagent léger, ils comptent parmi les cadeaux les plus appréciés sur Sokofa.
Questions fréquentes
Sokofa (sokofa.com) est une place de marché en ligne d'accessoires africains faits main : perles de taille, bijoux en laiton recyclé, perles maasaï, sacs en cuir et cabas doublés d'Ankara, vendus directement par les artisans africains qui les fabriquent. Chaque produit est examiné avant sa mise en ligne, les articles sont expédiés dans le monde entier avec un paiement sécurisé, et si un article arrive endommagé, erroné ou non conforme à sa description, contactez le service client dans les 48 heures suivant la livraison pour organiser un retour ou un remboursement.
Les perles de taille sont une tradition ouest-africaine que l'on porte autour de la taille ou des hanches, historiquement pour la féminité, la célébration et la conscience du corps, et aujourd'hui aussi tout simplement comme bijou. La plupart sont enfilées sur commande : mesurez l'endroit où vous voulez qu'elles se placent et choisissez cette longueur, à porter sous ou sur les vêtements, comme vous préférez.
Les matériaux courants sont le laiton recyclé, les perles de verre cuites à la main, les cauris, le cuir et les pierres semi-précieuses. Chaque fiche produit indique les matériaux exacts, et comme les pièces sont faites main, de petites différences par rapport à la photo sont normales.
Ce sont parmi les articles les plus offerts sur Sokofa : légers à expédier, faciles à offrir sans se soucier de la taille, et chacun s'accompagne de l'histoire de l'artisan qui l'a créé. La collection Cadeaux à moins de 50 £ est un bon point de départ.
Gardez le laiton au sec et polissez-le de temps en temps avec un chiffon doux : une patine qui s'intensifie est naturelle et beaucoup l'adorent. Rangez les perles à plat ou suspendues pour protéger le fil, et tenez les deux à l'écart du parfum et de l'eau salée.
