The Baba Tree Basket Company’s founder, Gregory ‘Ayinedollah’ MacCarthy has been traveling to and living in Ghana since winter 1999.
Gregory first went to Ghana to study cultural drumming with the "Ga" tribe, who are based in the Greater Accra Region. After months of sweating it out over a drum and a disappointingly uneventful "Y2K" he found, when it was time to leave, that he had some extra brass in his pocket. He had the quaint idea that buying some beads and cloth, with his surprising surplus of cash, and reselling them in Canada, would be a marvelous way of underwriting his drum studies.
That was the illustrious start of The Baba Tree’s (formerly known as the dubiously named Swingpad International Imports) tenure of being the fairest trader in Bolgatanga.
The Baba Tree’s world headquarters are based in Bolgatanga in Ghana’s Upper East Region where Gregory is surrounded by a beloved team of endearingly dedicated employees who suffer his presence daily. Not least, in this collection of great associates, is one of his heroes—his beleaguered right hand man Ibrahim Dramani Samadu, otherwise known as "Old man" but more often than not affectionately referred to as "Olu." He is a warrior of the spirit and has the weaver’s best interest at heart which is exceedingly rare in the Bolga basket industry.
Arriving at The Baba Tree’s compound every day are dozens, sometimes hundreds, of weavers—men, women, children and students—many of whom The Baba Tree has been working with for years. These are the people that butter our bread and must be compensated more fully for their artistry if Bolgatanga has any chance of developing.
Cynthia Asumboyine Adongo’s tribulations began when she accepted Gregory’s marriage proposal and, though suffering cheerfully, gave birth to their angelic daughter Precious Mikaela Ayinbotima thereby mitigating the effects of being married to a "silly man".
Cutting through Gregory’s delusional nature with searing effect is the vision that everyone that joins him on this undulating apple cart called The Baba Tree Basket Company must benefit, if they allow it, by walking away with great product, abundance, an open heart and hope. He prays for this every day.
He is still a hopeless drummer.
Arriving at The Baba Tree’s compound every day are dozens, sometimes hundreds, of weavers—men, women, children and students—many of whom The Baba Tree has been working with for years. These are the people that butter our bread and must be compensated more fully for their artistry if Bolgatanga has any chance of developing. Meet our weavers.
