Founder's Story

Travel as an inner journey began for E. Aminata Brown while attending Lycee Talma in Yerres, France at age 16.

E. Aminata brown

As a Languages student, she fell in love with the romance of French culture and likewise, developed a deep intrigue in her cultural African roots. By age 19, Aminata realized her longing to better understand her own ancestry and moved to Senegal to volunteer at the S.O.S. Childrens' Village as an English instructor, while studying at the nearby University de Dakar.

Aminata graduated with Honors from Brown University, earning a B.A. with dual majors in English Literature and African-American Studies with a focus on African Studies. During her Junior year, she attended the University of Ghana at Legon. She graduated from Brown after completing a thesis on the conflicts of reunification between the African Diaspora and continental African peoples. After college, she lived among Senegalese people in Montreal, Canada and Quebec City, Quebec. Throughout these life-enriching experiences, Aminata discovered a deep love for her own African heritage and a special interest in its rich cultural legacy.

Aminata Brown

Her professional career began as a Change Management consultant at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) where she worked traveling throughout the United States. Aminata later left her corporate career to facilitate political and trade delegations from Israel and the U.S. to Ghana and Cameroon during the years 1998-1999. She also worked as a private free-lance consultant supporting small business development in Ghana during that time. While serving as Ghana country director for International Child Resource Institute in Berkeley, CA, Aminata provided oversight to local child wellness projects.

A naturally artistic spirit and deep appreciation for indigenous people inspired Aminata to become a social entrepreneur. While living in Accra, Ghana from 1999-2003, Aminata founded a creative African women’s collective, consisting of young women from rural villages. With this collective, she leads the innovation, design and development of artistic textile products called BaBa Blankets™, which are exported to Europe and the U.S. Aminata's social enterprise continues providing under-educated women with a creative growth environment, as well as offering them sustainable income and other vital resources. Through the ongoing development of BaBa Blankets™, Aminata intends exposing the world to the vibrant beauty of West African culture and the boundless potential of its people.

E. Aminata BrownAminata holds a Master’s degree in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica, CA. She continues to explore new ways of fostering supportive relationships between Africa and the Diaspora. She is fluent in French and speaks some Twi.

Aminata resides in Accra, Ghana on a part-time basis and recently relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana to open the premiere BaBa Blankets retail store.

 
BaBa Blanket Founder E. Aminata Brown

People Are Saying...

"It was wonderful to meet you all and share the time with you and your gorgeous fabrics! And my couch is loving the two gorgeous pillows that now adorn it and the table runner in the middle of the living room. And the other table runner already went to someone for a bday present. Thanks again and all the best to you and the members of the cooperative. The artesania and spirit you all brought to the conference was so lovely." - Emily G. - San Francisco, CA

People Are Saying...

"Once I got home it took me a while to get unpacked but once I got the blanket on my bed, I knew immediately that I had made the right choice (in spite of all my friends voting for the one I did not pick). I love it! Every time I go upstairs and walk in my bedroom, I get a big smile on my face and think of you and what a wonder thing you have done for West African women." - Melanie B. - Miami, FL

Our Mission

Our mission is to create inspiring cultural works that provide sustainable income and well-deserved development opportunities for African women & girls.

What People Are Saying

"I can not tell you how many people have marveled at my King duvet in my bedroom and the blue/turquoise duvet in one of the guest bedrooms! They are a real hit... I know that I have something beyond special!"
- Lencsi A. - Carlsbad, CA More...

A World Class Story!

This is the story behind BaBa Blankets. (Watch the video here). It is a story about many girls from Ghana's northern region who are otherwise known as "kaya yo" or load carriers. Their dream to change their lives by learning to sew was the inspiration behind the BaBa Blankets social enterprise.