Olowo-n'djo's Blog – Alaffia
Togo Gets An Agricultural Reboot

Togo Gets An Agricultural Reboot
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
As you well know, a main impetus of Alaffia’s beginning was when I met Rose in the 90’s as she was serving my hometown as a sustainable agriculture volunteer in the Peace Corps. As fate would have it, we became partners in both life and business. Her wisdom of ethnobotany, the study of the relati...
Read MoreBaby Alaffia

Baby Alaffia
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
Abide, a midwife who served the women in our Maternal Health Empowerment Project, was riding her motorcycle and came across a young woman, Hodalo, on the side of the road who was distressed and in pain. Hodalo was in labor and had been personally affected by FGM earlier in her life, which can mak...
Read MoreWhat Happens In Togo: Agbavi Beach

What Happens In Togo: Agbavi Beach
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
Agbavi Beach in Togo, West Africa holds a special place for me because it was where my mother, Ina, and I shared our last stroll on the beach together before she became too ill to walk. It was a kind of magical place for both of us to regroup, plan and reminiscence about how far we’d come with ou...
Read MoreThe Legacy of Chadwick Boseman

The Legacy of Chadwick Boseman
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
Trying to process the magnitude of the loss of Chadwick Boseman and the collective outpouring of sadness is to not only realize his immense talent but also what he came to represent to so many. Chadwick’s performance of T’Challa in “Black Panther” contained such deep levels of humanity, humility,...
Read MoreMuch More Than a Basket
Much More Than a Basket
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
There’s more than meets the eye with our Alaffia Authentic African Handwoven Baskets. Weaving the baskets is highly collaborative with multiple co-op and collective partners. Baskets are woven with wild-harvested Savannah grass—panicum or elephant grass—from the Blitta collective in Togo. Grass c...
Read MoreI Am A Dreamer

I Am A Dreamer
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
It's my great honor to be part of the IconTalks documentary “I Am A Dreamer,” an exploration of history, social justice and economic empowerment. In partnership with the Motion Picture Association, the powerful film features commentary from a group of esteemed leaders and activists, such as the l...
Read MoreTogelese Cuisine Family Recipes

Togelese Cuisine Family Recipes
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
It’s my joy to cook and share Togolese cuisine made from recipes passed down by my mother, Ina. I've made these recipes for people far and wide, including for many of our amazing retail partners. I’ve had so many requests about how to make these sauces that I'm considering an Alaffia cookbook! My...
Read MoreSpend for Good

Spend for Good
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
"Producers’ cooperatives are an essential lifeline for any woman selling to the international market. In addition to ensuring Togolese women a voice, flexible working hours, and fair wages, they’re also gatekeepers of cultural integrity and authenticity." – From Cause Consumer's “Beauty Products ...
Read MoreThen & Now: Kante Baobab Collective

Then & Now: Kante Baobab Collective
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
In 2015, I met with the Kante Baobab Collective. I was drawn to Kante, as the area is one of the most poverty stricken in Togo, and women rely on collecting and selling baobab fruits from the wild baobab trees that grow in and around their farms for additional income. Baobab trees live for severa...
Read MoreCorporate Excellence Award in Washington D.C.

Corporate Excellence Award in Washington D.C.
by Olowo-n'djo Tchala
My co-founder, Prairie Rose Hyde, and I were honored by Under Secretary of State David Hale and Assistant Secretary of State Manisha Singh with the 2018 Award for Corporate Excellence in Women’s Economic Empowerment at a ceremony in Washington D.C. on Friday, Oct. 5, 2019. I spoke about the influ...
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