Akhada Baskets Named Création Africa Finalist in Malawi

What changed

Akhada Baskets, founded by Tisungane Thomson after meeting a struggling weaver in Salima, has been named one of 15 finalists in Création Africa. The Malawian business has grown from one weaver to more than 70, making baskets, wall art and woven furniture from locally sourced palm leaves and other eco-friendly materials.

The finalists will enter an intensive business incubation programme overseen by the Embassy of France and the French Institute of South Africa. Akhada already sells in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, parts of Europe and Beijing.

Why it matters

Akhada’s growth shows what can happen when traditional skill is connected to a dependable market. The weavers are not being asked to abandon the craft for modern design; they are adapting patterns and products while keeping the underlying techniques intact.

That matters in practical terms. Most of the weaving is done by local women and young people in Salima, often from home. The business now produces storage baskets, baby baskets, toy organisers, décor and furniture, creating more ways to turn cultural knowledge into income.

The company’s expansion has also depended on unglamorous infrastructure. Transport between Lilongwe and Salima was once handled with open trucks that exposed products to the weather. Grants helped Akhada buy a van, making collections and deliveries safer and more reliable.

The incubation programme could help strengthen the business side of that growth, particularly after Thomson and her team had to learn financial management, budgeting, record-keeping and market planning. But the programme’s funding for Akhada, its duration and any future export contracts have not been stated.

For now, the important change is clear: a business that began with one basket made for one potential buyer has become a cross-border enterprise with a much larger community behind it.