Swahili African Modern | Fair Trade African Gifts and Home Decor

Celebrate Modern African Artistry

AFRICAN MODERN, formerly Swahili Imports, is a women-led business dedicated to increasing global investment in African craftsmanship. We showcase modern Africa through handmade home decor and gifts, encouraging artisans across the continent to design their own futures. With a low wholesale minimum order of $100, we simplify sourcing for retail stores and catalogs. We ship from Oregon in the Pacific Northwest, USA.

100% Natural Handmade Goods

Each treasure in our 100% Natural collection is handcrafted from a natural, locally-sourced material, with no added dyes, colorants, animal by-products or synthetic elements. These handmade goods showcase the beautiful blending of artistic skill and natural materials from the earth, and many are crafted from renewable plant fibers or wood from managed forests.

Explore the Collection

EXPLORE OUR COLLECTIONS

Bolga Baskets

Skilled weavers in Ghana craft durable baskets from natural fiber.

Metal Art

Creative makers transform waste metal into fantastic garden art.

Soapstone Zoo

Skilled Kenyan carvers craft animal art from smooth Kisii stone.

Wild Olive Wood

Carvers create natural utensils from sustainable hardwoods.

African Jewelry

African artisans craft sophisticated jewelry & accessories.

Burkina Bronzes

Lost wax casting yields chic feminine sculptures.

Senegal Baskets

Wolof women weave artistic storage hampers, baskets and bins.

Instruments

Shop handmade djembes, balafons and spin drums.

African Textiles

Source handmade pillows, throws and table runners from Mali.

We Believe in African Artisans

No creation that our team gets to handle carries that perfectly impersonal imprint of a factory line. Everything is warm, speaking of its maker's humanity through subtleties and singularities. Choosing handmade goods for your store promotes sustainable, long-term economic development, mobilizing skilled artisans to refine their craft and shape healthy communities.

Sourcing Diversity

Explore artisans goods from Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa.

Next to Nature

Stock your shelves with gifts and home decor that showcase the beauty and benefit of natural hardwoods, renewable plant fibers and recycled metal, plastic and paper.

Humanity First

Fair trade principles focus on respectful transactions with individuals in developing nations, from paying fairly to increasing capacity and ensuring the rights of children.

Visit Our Showroom

During Atlanta Market, visit us in the Artisan Collective showroom on the 10th floor of Building 2 at AmericasMart.

View Gift Shows

We're on Faire

If you like sourcing on Faire, please use the link below. We offer discounts during Faire Market in January and July.

Shop on Faire

Sign Up for Emails

We send weekly emails to let you know about new products, discounts, shows and news from the field. Sign up below!

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Glowing Reviews

BEAUTIFUL - Great value and workmanship. Everything arrived looking just like the pictures. Very pretty and it was a great choice for our store. [Robin's Nest in the Pass]

WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE - Very happy with the products received. Well made, with personality. Arrived promptly & well packed. Sold items while unpacking! [Details by Mr K]

EXCELLENT AS ALWAYS - Swahili African Modern sets the bar high in design and craftsmanship. Their products are staples in our shop and sell well year round. [Hill Station]

Ready to Get Started?

Applying for a wholesale account is simple for store owners and professional buyers. Once approved, just log in to view our full wholesale catalog and place orders.

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