Your intrepid Kikoy researcher! has just returned from Kenya and the beautiful coastal archipelago. It was a really worthwhile journey other than a spot of unrest in Nairobi where 16 Somalian MP’s were arrested for misappropriating funds (undeclared income!). Rockpool Kikoy only source the superior quality kikoys of Kenya – the genuine article. I met with my wonderful supply people, visited mills, drank a lot of excellent Safari Tea and explored new alleyways to talk kikoys. Please beware of buying cheap kikoys…the poor quality with unstable dyes give the beautiful kikoy a bad name. I happily met with my very talented knotters who are pleased with the ongoing orders. Every kikoy sold through Rockpool Kikoy benefits the local textile communities. We are very proud to be helping families and their communities survive and become stronger through trade.
Kikoys and friendship
Travelling-
We did head up the coast in an open dinghy (with provisions for 2 days – including a decent size kingfish! and a jar of locally grown cashew nuts packed loosely in woven baskets), weaving through the mangrove channels to Kiwayuu just south of the Somalia border. The area is bordered by a Marine Park which makes it difficult for the local fishermen to make a living. It is very isolated but beautiful. The Kiwayuu villages have made a brilliant industry collecting old flip flops (thongs!) washed up on the beach. During the monsoon rains all the broken flip flops make their way out to sea where the currents push them up to Kiwayuu. The women slice the thongs into flat pieces and make fish mobiles, flowers, hair elastics and colourful beaded fly curtains to hang in doorways. They sell them at the markets further south in Mombassa. This is the ultimate in recycling!
You can see the wonderful documentary about Flip-Flotsam on www.journeyman.tv?lid=12179 or YouTube.
We didn’t have time to head bush this trip but did meet a gentle, sweet giraffe by the name of Daisy who licked pellets of grain from our hands and even accepted a big hug from us.
