The Somali Bantu Women’s Cooperative
The Somali Bantu Women’s Cooperative is a grouping of sixteen Bantu refugees now living in San Diego. The tradition of cultural expression through arts and handmade crafts has been an integral part of Somali Bantu celebration for more than five centuries. Somali Bantu women have maintained family stories and community values through their art, passing on oral histories through visual icons and crafts. Now, the San Diego Bantu refugee women have joined forces making available their crafts, including henna, beaded jewelry, and embroidery, for sale in the US. Struggling like all refugees to rebuild their lives and become economically self-sufficient, this project not only helps to keep alive this beautiful aspect of African culture, but also to ease the women’s and their families’ transition to life in the US.