The Main Economic Activity in Tabaka

Tabaka in Gucha District in the Western Highlands, is home to Kenya's finest stone carvers. The Kisii / Gusii community are renowned for their artistic skill with the local soapstone. They have a long tradition of carving ornate decorative art and jewelry, together with functional items such as plates and bowls.

The stone is found in a series of large open quarries throughout the Southern Gucha area, which have also proved equally rich in uncovered fossil evidence and prehistoric artifacts. Cooperative workshops have been formed to produce work for the international market. Kisii stone is sold worldwide, and several works by Tabaka artists have found a place in major international art collections. Tabaka soapstone am told graces the UN HQ in New York, and the UNESCO HQ in Paris, in the form of a massive 7- ton "bird of peace" or Enyamuchera.

The success of this industry shows in the town of Tabaka, where every household seems to be busily engaged in carving, polishing, washing and packaging stoneware. This very success has meant the preservation of a very important cultural tradition. A visit here is an excellent opportunity to experience this rich culture and to purchase some beautiful handcrafted works of art.

These rare stones are only found in Tabaka area in Kenya where the major economic activity is soapstone carving. The soapstone products are famous at all corners of the world. The trade in soapstone is significant both to carvers and suppliers in Kenya and wholesalers, retailers and consumers abroad.

Tabaka is located about 400 KM West of Nairobi in Western Kenya -Nyanza province and is inhabited by the Kisii ethnic group. The principal activity in this area is soapstone carving. The soapstone is sourced from local community farm, and the carving is treated as a family's income generating activity.

The trade of soapstone comprises of both men and women, young and old. Traditionally it is the men who do the digging/mining of the soapstone as well as carving the products in the required designs.The women's part involves polishing and washing finished products as well as applying the shining wax cream popularly known as cobra wax.

For the National and International Visitors

You will have an opportunity to visit the soapstone mines/quarry and see for yourself the intensive Labour involved in extracting the soapstone using crude tools. Meet also the carvers at work/production process and have the liberty of sharing with them the carving experience. Meet also with the women involved with smoothening of the products using sand paper and water and polishing the finished products using wax. It is also interesting to see children as they go to the rural schools and play at home. Visit also various shops stocked with soapstone items. Internal transport is by the famous "matatu" which have survived many years of rough/un tarmacked roads.More interesting are the pick-ups that are used in transportation of the soapstone from the quarry.

A two/three day stay in Tabaka will give you an opportunity to have a proper insight of the tradition of Soapstone carving in Kenya. There are three options of spending your night. For the clients interested in adventure, you may opt to stay with the producers' homes. By staying with the host community, you will have the opportunity to learn in details the usual way of life. After all, a night in an African home could just be so memorable. The second option is to spend your night in the local guesthouse, close to the host community. The third option is to spend the night in Kisii town Hotels. The town is located about 30 minutes drive from Tabaka.

This year Wakenya Pamoja Sacco Society Opened a paypoint at Tabaka Town to help the community enjoy banking services and products.On September 2007 ,the Paypoint was officially opened by the Nyanza Provincial Cooperative Officer....... More  

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