Traditiona

The Comorian artisans are very articulated in their arts work. They are extremely resourceful in this field as they use whatever materials availabe to them. For example they produce superb work using wood to make a wide range of traditional wooden furniture, including doors, Qur'an holders, shutters and excellent traditional jewelry.

Coconuts trees don't just provide Comorians with food and drink (juice and copra), the long leaves are used to weave very useful, economic and environmentally-friendly artwork. These include baskets which are used to transport food and other goods from farms to the village and markets. They are also woven into sheets called 'Mabaga', wuhandza' and 'Mitsepve' which are used to construct simple traditional houses known as 'Nyumba Yankatsa' (house of coconut leaves). Other items made from coconut-leaves include straw-like hats, sandals, children's toys, rags and prayer mats. A variety of different sizes and shapes of these items can be seen in shops and local markets.The fibres from coconut kennel are fluffed up and used as stuffings for mattresses and pillows. They are also hand-twisted into ropes for daily usage such as tying up animals and for scaffolding. The coconut shell as well as being a fuel is also used as storage for water known as 'Mrijo'. Large galleries of Comorian arts and Crafts can be find in big towns on the Islands.

It is fundamental to note that some of the Comorian Arts and Crafts have some similarity with the Zanzibarian arts referring back to the Sultans era in both Comoros and Zanzibar.

The women especially make hand-sewn embroidaries on fabrics. These drawings depict scenaries of people at work on farms and women carrying children. These decorated fabrics are then used to make dresses, aprons, curtains, bed covers and table clothes. Another women's speciality is the famous Comorian hat known as 'Kofia'. This is handmade and can take weeks to complete. The hat comprises of two pieces of fabric, the top and the sides. First, a small hole is pierced into the fabric using a thorn and then a golden thread and small needle are used to embroider the hole. This is repeated throughout until the material is covered with embroidery. The best Kofia is the one with small holes and very little spaces in between them. The two pieces of fabrics are then sewn together and the kofia is complete. It sounds quite simple but as a matter of fact it is very intricate and women take their time to make them perfect. They take pride especially when they see how good it looks on their husbands. Men also take pride in their wive's handwork and they compliment or criticise each other on them. The kofia can have arabic calligraphy or symbol of Islamic significance traced on it.

In Selea we have some of the best artisans in the Bambao region. Many of them learnt the science of traditional art from local workshops set up by individuals.

Jewellery such as earings and necklaces can be hand-made and customised by skilled local jewellers. These can be traditional or comptempory.

Traditional arts and Crafets is a natural Therapy for memory relaxation