About Us

Owner and founder of Bolga-Ayia, Sia Yambire, was born in the Fara-Fara culture near the famous Bolgatanga basket weavers in Northern Ghana. He began working as a young man with American and European basket buyers in the region leading him to start his own business in 1995 .

While building and maintaining reliable business relationships with the weavers, Sia has also found ways to give back to his indigenous communities.  Various projects over the years include personally funding micro loans;  bringing medical supplies to his hometown clinic;  digging a community well in his village which provides a clean and accessible water supply;  facilitating a cultural exchange school program;  sourcing bicycles for the local community;  sourcing sewing machines for aspiring tailors;  and he has grown some pretty nice mango trees at his home base in Bolgatanga. .

Sia now shares his time with his family and business in Northern California and his lengthy annual basket buying trips to Ghana.
Sia's fresh, innovative and beautifully made baskets last for decades and are cherished by families and collectors around the world.