Private Studio Session on African Material Histories

Hosted in Airi Handmade's Studio in Watamu, just minutes from Watamu Beach, this intimate session invites you into the living archive of African maker material histories. Rather than a surface-level cultural tour, you will engage directly with fibers, beads, baskets, and textiles while uncovering the design intelligence, ritual significance, and economic realities behind them. Ideal for culturally curious travelers, design lovers, slow travelers, and thoughtful minds seeking depth, context, and meaningful connection beyond mainstream interpretations of Africa. Why This Experience Is Different This is not a performance, a craft demonstration, or a souvenir workshop. It is a guided studio conversation rooted in research, lived maker relationships, and material literacy. It is intentionally intimate, reflective, and layered, created for those who value depth over spectacle.

After initial greetings and a welcome drink, for the first 15 minutes, you will be invited to engage with the different African Materials on display for you in the studio. This will give you an opportunity to get a brief overview of each material. You will be encouraged to interact with the product materials to feel the nuances in each distinct item After this, for the next 30 minutes, you will be engaged on the material origins of each item at length, highlighting the depth of cultural perspective often missed in mainstream interpretations. From this, for the remainder of the 15 minutes, you will interact with an African maker where you get to ask questions about their processes while engaging with their craft. At the end of the session, you will receive a Handmade gift package that includes Kenya's seasonal varietal single- origin coffee from a small-scale Kenyan producer. Airi Handmade's hope will be that you have learned something meaningful and gained a multi-dimensional perspective of African culture.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.