_Originating from Segou, the ancient capital of Mali, Baba Berthe started creating his jewelry in 1999. Living in Mopti, Mali, also known as the Venice of Mali, Baba worked with the Musee des Perles (Bead Museum) in nearby Sevare. He started out as an apprentice of his mentor, Oumar Cisse, and later became independent.
In 2009, Baba came to the United States for his first time, participating in Brooklyn Academy of Music's Dance Africa Bazaar. Baba travels between the United States and Mali in order to facilitate his work and use local resources and materials from Mali for his art.
Muso Masi-ri's work is all handmade, using local resources and materials from Mali, West Africa. Materials include recycled bronze removed from old car radiators, silver, recycled leather, ebony wood which is native to West Africa, bone, glass beads, recycled rubber, and cowrie shells – Africa’s first money used for trade. Profits are reinvested in Mali in order to buy materials and promote education and health for our friends and family. We are a truly local company, working on a global scale, to help improve development in Mali.
In Mali, women take pride in the jewelry they wear, especially because of the historical and cultural significance associated with it. In Bambara, the local language of Mali, Muso Masi-ri means “the decoration of women.” Baba brings the spirit of Malian women and their pride in their culture to you through his jewelry. His goal is to decorate women all around the world with his art and to bring a small piece of Mali to each of them.
In 2009, Baba came to the United States for his first time, participating in Brooklyn Academy of Music's Dance Africa Bazaar. Baba travels between the United States and Mali in order to facilitate his work and use local resources and materials from Mali for his art.
Muso Masi-ri's work is all handmade, using local resources and materials from Mali, West Africa. Materials include recycled bronze removed from old car radiators, silver, recycled leather, ebony wood which is native to West Africa, bone, glass beads, recycled rubber, and cowrie shells – Africa’s first money used for trade. Profits are reinvested in Mali in order to buy materials and promote education and health for our friends and family. We are a truly local company, working on a global scale, to help improve development in Mali.
In Mali, women take pride in the jewelry they wear, especially because of the historical and cultural significance associated with it. In Bambara, the local language of Mali, Muso Masi-ri means “the decoration of women.” Baba brings the spirit of Malian women and their pride in their culture to you through his jewelry. His goal is to decorate women all around the world with his art and to bring a small piece of Mali to each of them.
