Authentic African Items - Skilled Craftsmanship - Ethically Made - Fair Trade
If you've been following us here lately, you know, in honor of our 2-year anniversary, we recently named our online store Alkebulan: Footprints in Africa's Cultural Emporium. The word Alkebulan (al-ke-bu-lan) is the original word for Africa. *Note, nothing else about our store has changed. Our core initiative of preserving the skilled craftsmanship of Africa remains the same. We still check all the boxes of Authentic African Items, Skilled Craftsmanship, Ethically Made, and Fair-Trade.
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐧?
The ancient name of Africa was Alkebulan. So, to fully honor the Motherland, we wanted to solidify the presence of our cultural emporium with her original name.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧?
Alkebulan has several known meanings: Mother of Nations, Mother of Mankind, and Garden of Eden. The name is also Arabic for The Land Of The Blacks.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐧?
The Moors, Nubians, Numidians, Khart-Haddans (Carthaginians), and Ethiopians.
Alkebulan is the oldest and the only word of indigenous origin, so when we considered all of the above, it was a no-brainer our cultural emporium be named Alekebulan.
Shop the Continent of Africa
Last year alone, we purchased retail items for our online store from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, The Gambia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, hence sowing investment dollars into 36 independent business owners (traditional artisans and skilled craftsmen) across Africa. By doing so, we're helping sustain small businesses, preserve families, support education, and invest courage into vulnerable communities throughout Africa. All while making it possible for those in America to own an authentic piece of the Motherland.
"I love that I can offer Made in Africa items with impeccable craftsmanship that I can be proud of. And by doing so, help small independent business owners (skilled craftsmen and traditional artisans) sustain their businesses and provide for their families. It's truly a win win for all involved." - Tammy Darmel Moore, Founder, Footprints in Africa
Shop Alkebulan, Footprints in Africa's Cultural Emporium for your authentic African items @ https://www.footprintsinafrica.org/shop-1, when you do so, you're helping preserve the skilled craftsmanship of Africa and making way for small independent business owners in Africa to provide for their families (food, shelter, clothing, education, etc.).
Alkebulan is owned and operated by Footprints in Africa, a 501c3 nonprofit organization.