About us - Ethics
ECOLOGICAL: A Minimum Impact Approach
Wula recognizes its environmental responsibility, and has responded with a "Minimum Impact Approach" - an approach that fosters good forest stewardship by everyone involved. We forgo the more economical method of harvesting, which involves taking as many trees possible from any one location and instead, we harvest selectively, spreading our harvesting over many locations and constantly seeking new areas; areas which are not straining from previous harvesting. In this effort, we range from forest area to forest area and region to region; avoiding areas where others are taking or have taken trees.
Selective cutting, if conducted responsibly, allows for both sustainability of forest areas and the communities that surround them. Our carvers knowledge in tree selection ensures that when we leave a forest, the forest remains healthy and growing, and with the ability to support the communities that rely on its resources. Likewise, Wula works with local forest guardians, whose responsibility is to prevent the overharvesting of the specific forest areas they are in charge of protecting. Before entering a forest area we first coordinate all cutting with these guardians, who control harvest amounts and assist us in choosing areas which are able to sustain harvesting.
Wula also promotes products from the fast-growing, softer wood Melina tree. We understand that proper carving determines a drum's sound more than wood type. If a shell is well carved, well built, and the time is taken to ensure high quality craftsmanship throughout the entire building process, a Melina wood drum produces a sound which rivals a professional quality hardwood drum; but at lower cost to the customer.
SOCIOLOGICAL: Leading the Way
Wula sets wages at much higher rates than other drum shops, which provides greater financial stability for artists and high employee retention for Wula. It also allows for a cohesive, team-based drum making facility, and one which has set the standard for trust, development, and the high quality craftsmanship which Wula has come to be known for.
Our goal is to foster a greater change within our sphere of influence, and over the years our efforts have led to a general increase in the wages of drum carvers and builders in Guinea. We believe that African drums and the labor of African drum makers have been devalued to a great extent, and we have worked to reverse this trend. Wula insists on flawless work in the making of our drums, and we pay a high wage to those who have the ability to provide it. Our drums also require much more work and many more steps in the building process, all of which creates what economists term "value adding". This increase in the value of the drum increases the value of the artists' labor, which in turn leads to higher wages and more sustainability.
SOCIAL NETWORKS