It was during my quest for traditional artwork that I stumbled across Zainab’s store. In a small corner of Lekki Market (also known as Jakande Market) where you can go shopping in Lagos, Nigeria, to pick up sculptures, beaded necklaces, artwork, ceramics, and other decorative gifts at questionable prices. Questionable because you need to start bargaining by taking half away right off the bat.
Actually I was there to see a mallam first. An old mallam who sells beads and whose photo I’d been privileged to take every time I’d visited the market over the last couple of years. So in my hand were prints I wanted to give him. Several prints. His beard growing lighter over the years. His grin upon handing him shots of himself already filled my soul for the day. His eyes lit up. He called his son. Showed him the photos. Called across the alley over to the next stall. Another vendor selling beads. He showed him the photos as well.
I bought three bead necklaces from him. I didn’t haggle or negotiate. But I needed to move on. To find those paintings I’d promised a friend back in Sweden. So I pressed on. Deeper into the market. Past identical stalls selling almost identical wares so much so it became a confusing maze.
Until I rounded a little corner. It was the green patterned print that pulled me in. Bulbous flower petals etched into traditional Ankara fabric now stretched and molded into a handbag. And I’d never wanted a piece of art more in my life than at that moment. Not the bag. But the beauty in the prints and the artistic eye its maker used to arrange the prints so.
That was when I met Zainab and her handmade Ankara bags.
Meeting Zainab (pictured in pink) got me thinking about talent and passion, about quietly working in your own corner, making a difference, battling upstream, and fighting off people who feel entitled to what you’ve worked so hard to achieve. To build. To create with your own hands. Working twice as hard when frivolity continually seems to be rewarded yet continuing to work twice – sometimes thrice – as hard.
I absolutely love Zainab’s eye and would love more people to connect with her and her work. I asked her if she had a website but she didn’t have one. Not yet anyway. Maybe she got just a handful of customers that day (myself included). Maybe more. But that didn’t dampen her resolve. She was put here to create and, that, she’ll continue to do. Every single day.
So quietly she works away within her sphere of influence, developing beauty, creating art in her vibrant little corner of the world. A piece of hers now resting in my little corner too.
Your beautiful photos and storytelling make me really nostalgic of Lagos… Thank you for this lovely post! || http://www.lorikemi.com
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.
She should still have a stall in there. You can probably ask others in there for Zainab who makes bags.
Please let us know when (because I believe somehow she will) she gets a website up and running because her bags are gorgeous. What you said – “thinking about talent and passion, about quietly working in your own corner, making a difference, battling upstream,” put me in mind of a fabulous book I’ve been reading called, “The Great Work of Your Life” by Stephen Cope. What you said echoes a lot of what he beautifully discusses about discovering and committing to your Dharma (life’s work/mission) and how doing so inevitably leaves a positive imprint in the world that ripples and resonates.
Thanks so much Lovenia! Sounds like a wonderful book to pick up by Stephen Cope. Will add it to my list now! 🙂
Vilka härliga färger! Det var jättekul att få träffa dig på Travel massive eventet 🙂
Detsamma Jeanette, tack! 🙂
‘Love the designs. Very unique!
They are!
I love this! What a great story and her bags are amazing! I want one now too! 😀
Thanks Kim!
I love her work! Thanks so much 🙂
Those handbags are stunning and I love how this post focuses on the people behind the product and not just the product itself. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks so much Sanura! For me, it’s always about the people.
Beautiful!
Thanks!
Wow… Absolutely gorgeous! I really wish she had a site!
I wish so too!
Beautiful! So no way to buy one?
I’m going to try to see how I can help her!
Please do! If she needs anyone to soraed the word here in the U. S. I would gladly do so!