The people involved in making this website happen include myself, Debbie Logan, and my talented, dedicated and patient associates at Robin Stancliff Photography and Centric Photo who are in charge of all the photos and technical stuff on the site.
Additionally, Ndalama African Desert Crafts is about my African associates; including Nxamasere, Botswana resident Nkgomotsang "Tiny" Mothanka, who is involved in buying local Botswana goods, especially the highly regarded Ngamiland baskets made by the Hmambukushu and Bayei ladies of the region. Senabe Lehatshe, also hailing from Nxamasere is an invaluable interpreter with extensive knowledge of the people and remote regions of Ngamiland.
Gorel Sidibeh, from the Fulani ethnic group, is my Malian partner. A licensed Malian tour guide, Gorel grew up in the village of Nafunke, the birthplace of the late, internationally celebrated musician Ali Farka Toure. The Niger River port of Nafunke is in close proximity to Tombouctou, and thus Gorel has many close ties with Tuareg people of the region. For a look at the wonders of Mali and a bit about Gorel's programs and our horseback cultural tours in Mali we invite you to visit Adventures In Mali by clicking on the tab on our Home page, or emailing us at africanadventures@yahoo.com.
Most importantly, we are about the arts and crafts, the artisans and craftsmen of the deserts of Africa. The basket makers, carvers, painters, metal smiths... The San, Bayei, Hmambukushu, Tuareg, Fulani and the Dogon...
My life in Botswana and travels throughout Africa have lead to the creation of this website. We have a small African Arts and Crafts shop at Nxamaseri Island Lodge on the Nxamasere Channel of the Okavango River in the far north of Botswana. The shop is called Ndalama Creations. In the local Kalanga language, Ndalama translates to “something you keep close to you" as in an ornament, talisman or piece jewelry.
The focus of our shop, as well as of this website, is to provide a sustainable outlet for local artisans to sell their creations. The ladies from the nearby villages of Nxamsere and Kajaja I and II bring their baskets to Ndalama to sell, as do local carvers, painters and other various artisans. My friends and professional associates Nkgomotsang "Tiny" Mothanka and Senabe Lehatshe and I, make frequent trips to the nearby Tsodilo Hills to visit a family of San Bushman artisans to collect and market their jewelry and crafts.
Boifang Samaje is an example of a young Motswana painter we have been supporting through education, promotion and sales of his work and with art materials. We invite you to find out more about Boifang and his work by visiting http://boifangsart.blogspot.com.
The cash flow generated by Ndalama helps to support these remote artisans and to supply them with a reliable income. The income from basket sales promotes the independence of Bayei and Hmambukushu women of the region.
Lastly, we are also about horses. We love horses, and so we have a special category devoted to horse related things from Africa. We are involved in horseback tours of Africa, specifically with game viewing horseback safaris in Botswana via Okavango Horse Safaris and cultural tours of Mali riding with the Tuareg, Fulani and Dogon people of Mali.
You are welcome to write us if you are interested in finding out more about us. My email address is listed under Contact Us.
We thank you for your interest and your support!
Debbie Logan, Nxamasere, Botswana - on behalf of ALL of US!!!
