The ALAMAH Shop is open!

Women in the Maasai community are experts!  They learn beading skills from their mothers and grandmothers.  Beaded necklaces, earrings, bracelets and anklets are worn by both men and women. And when there is a marriage or a new baby there are special beaded gifts to celebrate.

As tourism has grown in Tanzania, Maasai beading has become popular with visitors.   And the Mamas are learning to adapt their beading skills and products to appeal to the tastes of guests from all over the world.   

When the Maasai Eco Boma opened earlier this year, the Mamas had hoped visitors would travel up to their Bead by Bead shop… but getting there was complicated. So the Mamas shifted their marketing strategy.

The ALAMAH shop – a pop up Beading shop – opens right in the Boma for a few hours each day.  Alamah means “we all go together”; a perfect name for the collaborative way the Mamas work together.   

The shop had a very good first month. Visitors from Canada and the US bought necklaces, earrings and placemats.  Special orders added to their sales offerings.  Creating pieces for guests offers the Mamas new opportunities to refine their products.