Shea Butter: Fair Trade, Unrefined Shea Butter and African Black Soap

Dahana Tchathibara has been handcrafting shea butter since her childhood, for at least 48 years. She relied on making and selling shea butter to support her children. As a member of the Agbanga Karite Group, she is guarenteed a steady income and has been able to pay for her youngest children to finish school. .

Rahimatou Razak

Rahimatou Razak is one of our youngest members. As a child, Rahiminou helped her family gather shea fruit to sell. Rahimatou is grateful to be part of the Agbanga Karite Group, since she has seen many of her peers leave their families and homes to work on plantations in other countries. As a part of the Agbanga Karite Group, she is able to support her two children and is close to her family.

Rabietou Souleimane

Rabietou Souleimane is our expert in handmaking virgin palm kernel oil, since she has been involved in this craft for over 43 years. Rabietou was born into an oil-producing family, and says shea butter and palm kernel oil crafting is "in her blood."

Sarata Fousseni

Sarata began handcrafting shea butter with her mother when she was a child. For 20 years she has worked in this craft. Sarata's husband is older, and cannot help support their four children. Before joining the Agbanga Karite Group, Sarata was a farmer, but her farms could not give enough to fill all the needs of her family. Joining Agbanga Karite has helped her support her children and make repairs to her home.

Fizetou Abibou

For the past several years, Fizetou Abibou had supported her family by buying and selling various articles in the local markets. At the same time, she was making shea butter for family use and to sell at the markets. Since joining the Agbanga Karite Group, she has been able to spend more time with her children and grandchildren.

Kodjo Shacran

Kodjo Shacran operates and maintains the shea nut grinders. He is from Kaboli, a town on the Benin border where we have a large shea nut warehouse. Kodjo's experience with shea butter began when he helped his parents gather shea nuts as a boy. Kodjo is a certified welder, but was unable to find work that paid enough to support his family. Now that he works for Agbanga Karite, he is able to support his wife and 5 year old daughter.