Albo African Gift Shop

About

Albo – a word that has such a deep meaning to young girls in Ethiopia epitomizes the mindset of the young founders of this special store in between Oakland and Berkeley. It means “anklet” in the Ethiopian language “Amharic”. Young girls coming of age in Ethiopia wore anklets as an expression of beauty - as if their striking natural facial beauty was insufficient. I am not sure if Mamie (Genet) and Hiwot wore it when they were younger, but there certainly is a romantic association with the word and the whole idea of girls walking around with anklets.