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How Buba Produces his Batiks
Display and Ordering of Batiks
Illustrations of How We Have Used Batiks

November 2005

We sold every T-shirt and Batik that we had whilst we were touring the country with Jali Sherrifo Konteh during October and November and managed to send a lot of money to Buba. He has been using some of it to make a lovely new batch of batiks which we received on November 24th. They are now on this site.

March 2005

We have returned from our 7th visit to The Gambia with another batch of batiks and t-shirts to sell for Buba. All proceeds from the sale of these will go to Buba to help him support his family and dependants. Buba has now returned from Bakau, where he had a stall near the Katchikally crocdile pool, to live in his own North Bank village of Nuimi Lamin and has set up a workshop there - under a mango tree - "Douto Koto" in Mandinka - and by the road that passes the village on the way to Juffreh and James Island. Hopefully the tourists who visit these places will stop there and buy batiks, though on the days we were there scarcely one vehicle per hour came by on the dirt road. With the money we have been able to send him from the sales of these batiks and t-shirts, Buba has been able to buy land and start building his own compound. It is a gradual process as the everyday needs of his family must come first, but when he can afford to he buys another bag of cement. He has planned where everything will go and has planted trees in appropriate places. These have to be well protected from the various wild animals who like eating fresh green shoots!

A visit to the "Roots" village of Juffreh and the slave prison of James Island is a really enlightening experience and it is only about 4 miles from Buba's workshop. When you are in The Gambia, get out of the hotels and their organised tours and go to Nuimi Lamin and Juffreh with a local 4-wheel drive operator. It's much better and much cheaper. We would highly recommend a totally reliable, trustworthy friend of ours, Lamin Joe Conteh, who has taken us on many tours. Contact him in The Gambia on 00220 7015387.

February 2006

We spent 3 weeks in The Gambia in February 2006 and returned with another batch of batiks. There are some different sizes this time, some suitable as cushion covers and others as framed pictures as well as wall hangings or any other ingenious ideas you may have. Two buyers have used the batiks they bought to make blinds. They certainly look good with the light shining through them.

Buba has now completed the walls round his compound and has a temporary gate. He has set up his workshop under one of the trees and because it is near to the road he has occasional visitors who might buy a batik, but most of his sales are through this site. He has used the space within the walls to plant cassava and a few other vegetables, so although he has not progressed much with any more building he is at least able to provide some food for his family.

Tina has recently written an article about Buba which has been published in the magazine "Fabrications". (Issue 40, 2006, ISSN 1467 8772)

February 2008

Our most recent visit to The Gambia was February 2008. Buba is now working in a local school, teaching not only batik-making, but basketry, tie-dye,and other crafts. He still produces his own batiks and some of the smaller ones Tina has made into bags and cushion covers. His teaching salary is very small, so any batiks sales, however little, are still an enormous help to him and his extended family.

February 2009

On our visit this year we met a very despondent Buba. He has lost his teaching job. Although an excellent teacher, thought of very highly by the school Head, he was unqualified. A purge on unqualified staff have left year nine without a teacher, in the lead up to their final exams. So, he has no income at all at the moment except for batik sales. He is hoping to earn some money teaching the art of batik to visitors and he already has a student staying with him for two weeks in May. So, if you are interested in learning about this fascinating art, why not book a flight to The Gambia and have lessons from a highly skilled and friendly artist? Contact us by e-mail if you want to know more!