Kuwundana Cream Trade Bead Pillow Cover

“Kuwundana” means constellation in Chichewa, a Bantu language spoken in Malawi where Kanju’s Kuwundana Trade Bead Pillow is made. Cast brass trade beads are planets framed by ostrich shell beads (drilled by hand from ostrich egg shells) and lucite hammershell sequin stars in a cosmic pattern that is almost as bright and dotted as the night sky in Malawi.  Handmade beneath thatched roofs and the shade of mango trees, Kanju’s artisan partners in Malawi carefully sew, embroider, and bead each pillow onto soft, South African plush cotton, available in vibrant or subtle hues. More than just a decorative object, each pillow is a tactile story of resilience, beauty, and intentional design.