A starting journey

A starting journey…

Elmina. The beauty and simplicity of its salty-aired port. Women who inspire us sell the freshly-caught fish while wearing intricate layers of colorful fabrics. Sharing laughs. Their worked hands, their persistent strength continues to inspire us to create our home and create our story.

Accra. A place where the day starts with the Salat al-fajr prayers and the day finishes late into the night when the ‘trotro’ drivers go home. The city hums with a desire for freedom and its contagious colors flood the streets. One of our favorite visits is the Makola Market. It’s where we find anything we need. Where we make good friends. Where we design and create all of our jewelry next to our amazing partners. Where we gold-plate and craft each piece individually.

Krobo and Koforidua. Home of the biggest bead markets. Thousands of old, unique, colorful, hand-crafted beads originating from many different parts of Africa pass by these cities through traders. These beads wait for someone to pick them and love them.

Cape Coast. The tiny streets, full of people dancing, singing, laughing and sharing memories. We’ve had some of our best laughs while sharing ideas with our seamstress here.

Dodowa. Where the magic happens. Where glass is smashed, melted, formed, painted. Where beads are carefully crafted by highly-skilled artisans. Where you can have a bead of any shape and any color made for you...an oasis of beads.

Yikene. Where we discovered our love for baskets. 

Zaare. Where women and men weave together under the baobab and mango trees as a community, as a team, as a family. 

Gambibiguo. Where nature always informs working and living.

Sumbrungu. Where nature is accepted and embraced. People admire the beauty of their hands, create unique pieces, and follow their own rhythms.

Kumasi. Where it all started. Days spent walking through the streets of the old Kejetia Market, negotiating the best deals with the women traders, getting lost within the organized chaos. Having our first home, with a small bed but a big dining table to be shared with friends every day. Dreaming about a better future, a better opportunity for all of us.

There’s a unique way of living in Ghana. Calm. Vibrant. Resilient. Natural. We want to share this way of life through each one of our pieces.

Aketekete wouldn’t exist without all of these people, places, cultures, feelings, textures, stories or all the trust and love for each other.

We couldn’t imagine a better place to start, a better place to be.

Let’s make this journey together; longer, brighter, timeless.