Who We Are

Each handcrafted garment, accessory, food and personal care product that lines the shelves and clothing racks of the Whidbey African Store tells a story of hope and female emancipation.The colorful store, which opened in the fall of 2024 in Oak Harbor’s Log Cabin, is a place where locals can purchase unique finds, learn about different cultures in Africa and support a good cause.For Owner Juliet Dei, it marks the first step toward her dream of opening a skills training center for women in Ghana, her home country.

“My aim is to be able to empower women,”

Since moving to Oak Harbor in 2016, Juliet  has built a supportive community around her and has been enjoying the small city life. Though she moved over 7,000 miles away from home, she remains deeply connected to the people of Ghana and Africa, particularly women.The idea for a skills training center came with the recent loss of two of the most important women in Juliet’s life — her grandmother and her aunt, who helped raise her. Juliet’s grandmother, Justine, passed away a few years ago. She worked as a nurse within some rural communities in the Volta Region of  Ghana, caring for some of the poorest people in the country. Her “auntie,” Joan, took many orphans under her wing, giving them a home and ensuring they received an education.

After Joan’s death last in 2023, Juliet had what she described as a “rude awakening.” At the funeral, she saw many malnourished orphans who no longer had someone to take care of them. Now, part of that responsibility has fallen onto Juliet’s shoulders.These women’s commitment to helping disadvantaged communities sparked Juliet’s desire to step up and do her part while juggling a full-time job in Oak Harbor’s post office. Years before, after she graduated from university, she spent a year in Northern Ghana, where poverty and gender represent a significant barrier to education for women.

Many girls marry and get pregnant at a young age, becoming completely reliant on their husbands. Often, after their husband’s passing, widows are kicked out of their own homes and are left to fend for themselves, despite their lack of employable skills.Juliet’s skills training center would help girls and women build the necessary tools to become financially independent. While the shop was created to fund this dream, it also supports female-owned businesses and organizations that educate, train and empower vulnerable communities in Africa.

Some of the clothes, which come in many colorful patterns and include hoodies, dresses, shirts and skirts, are made by some of Juliet’s aunt’s orphaned girls, as well as some students attending a skills training center in Togo.The leather bags and the sandals are produced in Tanzania by an organization that trains people with albinism, who face persecution due to superstitions surrounding the color of their skin.The shop also sells coffee by the Olympic Crest Coffee Roasters, which roasts Ethiopian coffee to support the Ethiopian Education fund.

Other offerings include bags, baskets, fans and hats made of straw; lotions and products for all skin and hair types; animal and human-shaped sculptures made of wood and adorned with colorful beads; keychains, earrings, bracelets and necklaces made with recycled glass and organic beads; nutritious shakes and more.One of the most popular items is the turmeric shake, which helps people dealing with infections and diabetes.Most of the Whidbey African Store’s proceeds support the different businesses and organizations that partner with the store, as well as Juliet’s dream project.

Regarding her decision to open an African store in Oak Harbor, a predominantly white area, she was initially hesitant due to her lack of business experience. However, her friend and mentor, Kenesha Lewin, encouraged her to step out of her comfort zone after recognizing the need for greater African representation in Oak Harbor and across Whidbey.Since she moved to the U.S. a decade ago, Juliet has met many people who were misinformed about Africa. Some think it’s a country. Others, upon hearing she is from Ghana, assume she lived in the savanna with lions.Juliet wants her shop to be a place where anyone can learn a thing or two about Ghana and other African countries. There is lots to learn about Ghana alone: for example, there are over 80 spoken languages, including English.The business is located at 830 SE Pioneer Way, Unit 103, Oak Harbor. For more information, visit the Whidbey African Store during business hours or send us an email @info.whidbeyafricanstore.com