How 20% Impacted the Entire Community

To Alaffia, fair trade means paying a fair wage, providing equal employment opportunities, engaging in environmental sustainable practices, providing healthy and safe working conditions, being open to public accountability, and reducing the number of middlemen between producers and consumers. We believe fair trade should be environmentally, economically and culturally sustainable and give local communities the opportunity to empower themselves.

Our founder, Olowo-n'djo Tchala and Amama Abadou

During Olowo-n'djo Tchala's trip to Togo last December, he was honored to receive a wonderful testimony of Alaffia's full-time efforts from Amama Amadou. She is the president of our Alaffia women's shea nut collective of Bowouda. This is what she said," Before coming to buy shea nuts, Alaffia invited us to give the market price, then Alaffia added 20% to this price. Everyone received her own receipt and money for her own nuts. We sold over seven tons of shea nuts to Alaffia, and together we have saved over 400,000 fcfa [$1,000]. In the past, we got paid little by little for each bowl that we had. Today, the buying process is organized, and everyone gets their whole payment at once. I thank you and I plead you to continue your support in our village in order to reduce poverty. This year, thanks to the 20% every one of us has paid the school fees for our children. We thank you very much for the support you have given to the women of Bowouda. You will be blessed for your efforts."

It is always very encouraging to know that as a fair trade organization, Alaffia is positively impacting our West African communities: Be it the shea nut collectors, our coop members, recipients of the bicycles and more. We are sincerely grateful and appreciative of the wonderful support and contributions we have been continuously receiving from our caring communities here in the USA and worldwide.

Click here to read more on how Alaffia is continuously making a difference in West Africa.

ALAFFIA’s Authentic African Black Soap

In West Africa, authentic black soap is known by its Yoruba name, Osse Dudu. “Dudu” means the color black, which comes from the extensive “cooking” of the soap to the point of charcoal. There are many cultures in West Africa that use charcoal to detoxify and purify the skin and this is an important aspect of our true African Black Soap.

There are many reasons why we call our black soap line - ALAFFIA’s Authentic African Black Soap. Our Black Soap is authentic as it is created using a centuries old traditional recipe from West Africa. In addition, our ingredients are handcrafted by the members in our own cooperatives using traditional, organic methods under fair trade guidelines.

The main ingredients used in this amazing product are certified fair trade shea butter, West African palm kernel oil and African mint. The shea butter and palm kernel oil are saponified with ashes and cooked for 6 hours. Afterwards, it is left to dry and cur eunder the sun for 3 weeks. We blend the dried soap with an herbal infusion of African mint, known for its calming and restive effects, resulting ina  gentle product perfect for daily usage.

Our Authentic Black Soap line comes in 2 refreshing natural scents - PEPPERMINT and TANGERINE CITRUS. While the tangerine citrus scent provides a soothing and calming effect to our nerves, the menthol found in the peppermint scent induces a cooling sensation which helps to stimulate alertness.

Besides the amazing scents, our Authentic African Black Soap is so mild and gentle that you can use it as facial cleanser (be sure to follow up with Alaffia Face Cream of your choice) and body wash for babies! Besides that, this soap has such a high versatility that it can be used as a head-to-toe wash and as a general household cleanser.  It’s what we call the “all in one” option for cleaning, especially when you want to travel easy for camping. How convenient, isn’t it? 

Drying the Black Soap

The African Black Soap comes in both a handy 16 oz. bottle with a pump and an economical 32 oz. refill size at affordable prices.

At ALAFFIA, we believe that Africa’s way out of poverty and towards gender equality is through our traditional knowledge and resources. Expanding our African black soap options helps us realize our goal of encouraging and conserving our traditional knowledge and skills in Togo, West Africa. 

Please visit our website at www.alaffia.com for more information about our organization and IMO certified fair trade products. 

It's Official!

 The First Thursdays of the month have been declared 'Tennis Shoe Day' at Alaffia HQ! Take a peek at some of the fun & antics that took place as we broke in our new basketball court in the Alaffia Gym. It's a busy place with plenty to do, but sometimes accomplishment means slowing down to have some fun!
The family that plays together, stays together... Thank you Rose & Olowo-n'djo for making this a GREAT place to be.

Game on!

Rose and Olowo-n'djo "spectating" from the sidelines.

Julie, keeping it light.

  

Olowo-n'djo taking a minute to prove he's got hops.