Banana Fiber art is a tradition in Western Kenya. The Banana fiber is used in a collage, on a background of black cotton, to depict the life and wild life of Kenya. The pieces measure 7 by 10 inches plus a border of 1.5 inches around.
Esther Kariuki is an independent artisan who, in her area of Kenya, near Kitui, has organized and trained women in her village to use the dried fiber of the banana plant, which would normally be discarded. The banana fiber is first dried, and then a light varnish applied. Once this process is complete craftspeople cut the fiber into thin strips to make items, including boxes, Bao Bab trees and mobiles.
Esther ensures the craftspeople are paid a fair wage for their goods, which has enabled many in her small village to earn a sustainable wage.
