The agaseke is a tightly coiled basket with a tall, pointed lid, traditionally woven from sisal, papyrus, and sweetgrass. It was used to store and carry precious items and has long been given as a gift at weddings and family occasions.
Patterns are more than decoration. Triangles, zigzags, and bands are woven in natural fibres and dyed strands, and weavers are known for the fineness of their coils and the balance of their designs.
After 1994, weaving cooperatives brought women from different backgrounds together, and the basket became widely known as a 'peace basket'. Today agaseke appear on Rwanda's national seal and in homes, hotels, and craft shops worldwide.
How to experience it
- Watch weavers at a craft centre or cooperative.
- Choose a basket by coil fineness and pattern balance.
- Ask the maker about the meaning of the pattern.
Respect & etiquette
Handmade baskets take days to weave—fair prices recognise that time.
