ABOUT US

Aṣiwaju [ah-shee-wah-ju] means "to lead" or "leading forward" in the Yoruba language. We were inspired to combine our love of horse-riding and heritage to honor and highlight the significance of African culture, while educating the world about our story as a people. We identified an opportunity in the market to create beautiful quality blankets that reflect the diversity and artistry of Diasporan cultures, thereby contributing to a deeper sense of pride & identity that further bonds the experience between horse & rider.


Our Mission

Aṣiwaju Africa Saddle Blankets was founded to honor, celebrate, and lead African culture forward, while also being dedicated to community stewardship that empowers African communities to thrive. Our mission encompasses the following intentions:

~ Honoring our ancestors

~ Leading the preservation of our heritage

~ Leading the progression of our people forward & giving back to build the foundation for communities to thrive

Our Vision

With every saddle blanket, we strive to create a world that is better educated about African culture and inspired to contribute to its economic development.

Authentic African Saddle Blankets

Our saddle blankets are individually handwoven and made-to-order using locally-sourced and premium wool. All designs are oversized so that the pattern shows nicely under saddle. We also have options for custom colors and sizing.

Our Artisans

Our artisans comprise of multiple weaving communities representing various tribes and cultures throughout the African continent. Undeniably, our artisans are invaluable and treasured partners & historians who help us to achieve the Aṣiwaju mission + vision through the art of storytelling.

Our Philosophy: Sankofa + Talented Tenth

As firm believers and advocates of the Sankofa and Talented Tenth philosophies, respectively, we are committed to fair trade practices, ethical working environments, and creating opportunities that empower each of our artisan societies to thrive. In addition to enhancing our partners' livelihood, we reinvest a portion of the proceeds back into the artisans' families and communities to provide assistance and funding for occupational skills-training programs.
Durbar FestivalAfrican Woman SmilingSamurai YasukeQueen Amina