In Agadez, Niger there is a thousand year old tradition that the Koumama Family Collective have passed down through many generations. Elhadiji is the current leader of the Koumama Family Collective and is an artisan of incredible skill and finesse. Elhadiji is considered the greatest silversmith in his region. The Koumama Family, over many generations, have learned the art of creating fantastic jewelry and use their hands and simple tools to craft phenomenal hand-crafted silver jewelry. First, they must raise the temperature in the beds of charcoal and warm the silver. The molten silver is then poured into molds and shaped into any of the desired jewelry pieces. We have seen, firsthand, the family create exquisite pendants, bracelets and ear-rings. The jewelry is then refined and finished using files, and the engraving is done freehand, using a simple tool that looks like a screwdriver.
Watch Elhadiji and the Koumama Family Collective share their work in these pictures:
Here are some of our best West African silver jewelry pieces on UNICEF Market.
