How to start a lucrative Mat Weaving Business in Nigeria

Mat weaving is a common craft among many women and children across various ethnic groups in Nigeria. Mat weaving is commonly done by using the hand. The process of mat weaving starts with identification and harvest of pliable materials like reed, oak, hickory and willow. Pliable materials are taken fresh from the farm and moved to a convenience where weaver can sit and start hand weaving. Reed is easily available and its large presence in Badagry, Oke Ogun region, Oyo and other parts of Yoruba land has helped the people to learn the craft.

Mats can come in different varieties and colours. The weaver must ensure that the reed is dyed before weaving if s/he wants the colour to change. Mat weaving is considered women’s job in most Yoruba land just as calabash making considered men’s craft. The usefulness of mat ensures that mat weavers constantly earn from their works

The art of mat weaving stands out as a testament to both the practical ingenuity and artistic prowess of its people. Mat weaving is also one of the indigenous crafts we have in Nigeria, old as man and even older than the independence of the people of Nigeria.

Mat weaving holds a special place in Nigerian society, deeply rooted in tradition yet adaptable to modern life. It is non tribal centric, as all tribes and cultures have their unique way of producing beautiful mats that match their region.

In Nigeria, mats serve a multitude of purposes beyond their practical uses. They are an integral part of ceremonies, rituals, and daily life. From birth to death, mats accompany individuals on their journey, symbolising protection, comfort, and unity within communities.

Mastering The Craft: Weaving mats is a meticulous process that requires patience, skill, and a deep understanding of natural materials.

Typically, artisans use locally sourced materials such as palm leaves, raffia, and bamboo to create these masterpieces. Each material brings its unique texture and colour palette to the final product, resulting in a diverse range of designs.

Harvesting and transporting a bundle of mat stalks to the homestead takes a full day. The smothering and drying stage commences the second day, with slicing of mat stalks. A sickle-like knife is used to slice the content (pulp) out of the mat stalk. After sun-drying for 2-3days, the sliced stalks are dyed or left plain.

However after harvesting, the Plant is been scraped and then dipped inside chemicals like “Jelu (Purple)”, “Buke (Red)” and “Mokere (Orange). This is done in other to add aesthetic to the design of the mat.

The weaving process itself is a labour of love, often passed down from one generation to the next. Skilled artisans deftly manipulate the materials, intertwining them to form intricate patterns and motifs.

From simple geometric shapes to elaborate floral designs, the possibilities are endless, limited only by the weaver’s imagination.

Preserving Cultural Identity: The preservation of traditional crafts like mat weaving is more important than ever. For many Nigerian artisans, mat weaving is not just a means of income but a way of preserving their cultural identity and heritage.

Though synthetic fibre mats are dominating the market, making the natural ones appear old fashioned, yet, some Nigerians are making money from weaving different sizes and colours of this traditional sleeping material. Some have even gone ahead to split the production of mat into different segments: gathering from planters, drying the stalk, knitting and dyeing, and then selling. Through this, the job has been made easier, faster and more profitable for all in the chain of production.

It would take a very hardworking weaver four to five days to produce one big coloured mat and if the weaver has to add diagrammes, then more days would be required.

One has to move beyond the conventional production processes to make good gains from the business.  One person should not necessarily have to undertake the whole process singlehandedly. The production process should be broken down to make weaving faster, better and more rewarding.

You can produce close to 30 mats a week. You can do this by dividing the whole process into segments. For instance, some people are in charge of acquiring the stalk, while others design and dye, and the third group takes care of the marketing. With this method, you will  never regret  venturing into the business.

The idea of departmentalising mat weaving process has enabled mat producers  to produce mat throughout the year, because they can  buy as much stalk as is available, store and use them even during the rainy season, when planters are cultivating fresh mat stalk. Besides, the longer you store this major raw material, the drier they become and the better they would be for weaving

Different types of mats are available, these include tablemats; drink covers, sleeping mats, curtains, as well as door blinds. One can experiment with the materials as much as possible. What really matters, however, is knowing how to apply the right technique to achieve the right result.

You can make up to N300k in a month from mat weaving and more during dry season. Just try as much as possible to make them beautiful by combining colours and sometimes inscribing nice diagrammes like flowers, this boosts prices,

Though the stalk mat does not last as long as the fibre type, it could serve as a coolant, especially during hot season, when temperature is high. It also absorbs sweat, which could be dried off with a little heat. Some people like it for these reasons. Indeed, one of the many challenges they  face is meeting the demand for local mats.

There are two types of mats: one that is purposely designed to cover rooftops and the other for spreading on the floor for people to lay on for relaxation or religious activities or even for beautification, depending on what the user wants. These mats are made of the same material, but while the one for the rooftop is stronger and more expensive, the general one used at home are weaker, but more colourful.

Hotels and resort homes come for the rooftop mats. They could be dyed to different colours depending on the taste of the buyer. Just like the local sleeping mats, the rooftop mats do not generate heat, as they tend to absorb heat, though they need to be fumigated once in a while so that they don’t become havens to rodents and insects. They could also be used to construct makeshift shade for picnickers at the beach,

Nigerian culture, mat weaving stands as a way of reconnecting with the past, to interpret the future. Its intricate patterns and enduring significance serve as a reminder of the resilience and creativity of the Nigerian people.

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