Tunisia ✓ Verified craft Plaited basketry
Alfa basketry
local name: Halfa
Baskets, mats and bags plaited from alfa grass, a plant of the Tunisian steppe.
Alfa grassNatural fibers PlaitingCoilingHand finishing
Alfa (halfa) grass grows on the dry plateaus of central and southern Tunisia. Women harvest it, dry it, soak it and plait it into mats, bags, hats and baskets used every day. The craft is passed from mother to daughter and has recently found new markets through design collaborations.
Meaning & stories
A symbol of rural know-how and women's economy in the steppe regions.
Every object here carries a story its maker will tell you if you ask.
— Consortium field notes
Everyday lifeSustainabilityTransmission
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