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The Commonwealth of the Bahamas, with a population of about 324,000 is an island nation located in the North Atlantic ocean.
The capital city Nassau is home to about 70% of the country’s inhabitants.
After the decline of the sponging industry in the mid 1940s, Bahamian women began braiding and weaving the leaves of palm trees and sisal plants into baskets and fishing traps as a way to boost their income. Today this tradition continues at The Straw Market in Nassau. Shoppers can buy woven items such as hats, mats, and baskets, as well as fine wooden carvings, colorful fabrics, and many other souvenirs. (PlanetWare.com)
Courtesy www.mightymac.org
Straw weaving, ingrained in the culture of the Bahamas has continued from generation to generation. Basket weaving is most common among the Black Seminoles.
Colorful assortment of fine woven baskets are a reflection of the people’s friendly and colorful personalities.
Photo by SV Galena
Tourists can shop from vendors offering a wide-variety of items including T-shirts.
Straw weaving is being incorporated into fashion and other forms of art as did Nassau, New Providence resident Keesha Miller in her Keesha Creations whose products range from shoes, bags to home accessories.
Would you visit?
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