Shea Butter: A Heritage of Craft, Commerce, and Survival

For centuries, African women have crafted shea butter by hand—now, as global demand soars, who truly benefits from this billion-dollar industry?

Tales from Ancient Trees

Early in the morning, long before the sun shows its face, women shea butter producers begin their day. Carrying only a few baskets, and their youngest children sometimes strapped to their backs, these enterprising women make their way into shea groves to gather ripe shea nuts that have fallen from the karité tree, popularly known as the “tree of life”. It takes about 2.5 kilograms of shea nuts to produce one kilogram of butter, and the nuts are carried home, sun-dried, de-shelled, boiled, ground to a paste, and then kneaded into the nourishing shea butter we all know. 

In these close-knit African communities where women often join hands to optimize output, shea butter production is not just a means to an end, but a labor of love; an ancient practice that fosters a deep sense of unity and shared purpose. According to The UN Development Programme (UNDP), over fifteen million African women work directly or indirectly with Shea, and through their dedication and craftsmanship, can generate income and contribute positively to their households. In this sense, the shea-butter economy represents a powerful intersection of cultural heritage, economic empowerment, and sustainability.

Over the last two decades, the global shea industry has witnessed enormous growth of over 600 percent, with . . .