Mawu Africa Shipping Policy

At Mawu Africa, we work with independent African makers to bring unique, handmade products to customers around the world. Because many of our products are handmade or made to order, processing times can vary from product to product.

We aim to make every order as smooth and transparent as possible, from checkout to delivery.

1. Where We Ship

We ship worldwide.

Shipping options and rates are calculated automatically at checkout based on your delivery destination, order weight and shipping zone.

2. Shipping Rates

Your available shipping options and shipping cost will be displayed at checkout before you complete your purchase.

Shipping rates vary depending on:

• Delivery destination

• Order weight and size

• Shipping zone

• Shipping service selected

The shipping charge shown at checkout covers the cost of shipping your order from Mawu Africa to your delivery address. Import duties, taxes and customs or carrier clearance charges are not included in our standard shipping rates unless specifically stated.

3. Order Processing & Dispatch

Because our products are handmade and sourced from independent African makers, production and preparation times vary by product.

Please refer to the individual product description for the applicable production or preparation timeline.

Once your order is ready for dispatch, our team will arrange shipment and provide tracking information where available.

If there is a delay in production or dispatch, our customer service team will keep you updated.

Please note: Delivery estimates begin from the date your order is dispatched, not from the date the order is placed.

4. Estimated Delivery Times

Our typical international delivery timeframe is approximately 3–14 business days from dispatch, depending on the destination and shipping service selected.

Kenya	1–3 business days
Africa	3–7 business days
EU	3-7 business days
USA	3-7 business days
Rest of world	5–14 business days

 

Delivery times may vary due to:

• Destination country

• Customs clearance

• Local delivery conditions

• Public holidays

• Weather or other circumstances beyond the carrier's control

Customs processing can occasionally cause delays beyond the estimated delivery timeframe.

5. Customs Duties, Taxes & Import Fees

Important information for international customers

Mawu Africa is an African e-commerce marketplace based in Kenya, East Africa. Our products are sourced from independent makers across Africa and are shipped internationally from Africa.

Depending on the product and maker, your order may be dispatched from Kenya or another African country.

If you are ordering from outside the country from which your order is dispatched, your purchase is considered an international shipment and may be subject to import duties, taxes and customs or carrier charges in your destination country.

International orders may be subject to import duties, VAT/GST, customs taxes or carrier customs/administrative fees imposed by the destination country. 

These charges are determined by the customs authorities and/or carrier in the destination country and are separate from Mawu Africa's shipping charges.

Under our standard shipping arrangement:

Import duties, taxes and applicable customs or carrier fees are paid by the customer unless otherwise stated or agreed in advance.

These charges may be requested by the shipping carrier before or upon delivery.

The amount payable depends on factors such as:

• Destination country's import regulations

• Product type and classification

• Declared value of the goods

• Country of origin

• Applicable tax and duty rates

• Customs clearance requirements

Mawu Africa does not control the amount of import taxes, duties or carrier administrative fees charged by the destination country or carrier.

Please check before ordering

If you are unsure whether additional import charges may apply to your order, we recommend checking with your country's customs authority before placing your order.

If you would like to know whether duties-paid shipping (DDP) is available for your order, please contact our customer service team before completing your purchase.

6. Duties-Paid Shipping (DDP)

For customers who prefer to have applicable duties and taxes handled upfront, Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) shipping may be available upon request especially for wholesale orders placed offline, depending on the destination and shipment.

Where DDP is arranged and confirmed, applicable duties and taxes will be handled as part of the agreed shipping arrangement, reducing the likelihood of additional customs payments being requested upon delivery.

7. Customs Documentation

Mawu Africa provides the information required for international shipments, including:

• Accurate product values

• Country of origin

• Applicable HS codes

• Product descriptions

• Information identifying our products as handmade/African-made where appropriate

Customers receive an order invoice by email.

A commercial invoice can also be provided upon request.

Mawu Africa does not intentionally under-declare the value of goods or provide inaccurate customs information.

8. Tracking & Delivery

Once your order has been dispatched, you will receive tracking information where tracking is available.

Please ensure that your delivery address and contact information are accurate when placing your order.

The customer is responsible for any additional delivery costs resulting from:

• Incorrect or incomplete delivery information

• A change of delivery address after dispatch

• Failure to provide required delivery information

• Additional delivery attempts caused by customer-related circumstances

9. Orders Returned Due to Failed Delivery or Unpaid Customs Charges

If an international shipment is returned to Mawu Africa because:

• The customer refused delivery;

• Required customs duties or taxes were not paid;

• The customer was unavailable to receive the shipment;

• The delivery address was incorrect or incomplete; or

• The customer failed to provide information required for customs clearance,

the customer may be responsible for the return shipping and any applicable customs, storage, handling or other carrier charges.

Where a refund is applicable, the original shipping fee is non-refundable, and any costs incurred by Mawu Africa as a result of the return may be deducted from the refund.

10. Lost Shipments

If your shipment is confirmed by the carrier as lost in transit, Mawu Africa will work with the shipping provider to resolve the matter.

Where a shipment is confirmed as lost, we will provide an appropriate replacement or refund in accordance with the circumstances of the order.

Customers should contact us as soon as possible if their tracking information indicates an unexpected delivery issue.

11. Damaged Shipments

If your order arrives damaged, please contact us as soon as possible.

To help us investigate the issue with the carrier, we may ask you to provide:

• Photos of the damaged product

• Photos of the packaging

• Photos of the shipping label

• A description of the damage

Please retain the original packaging until the matter has been resolved.

12. Incorrect, Missing or Defective Products

If you receive:

• The wrong product;

• A product that is missing from your order; or

• A product that is defective or significantly damaged,

please contact our customer service team as soon as possible after delivery.

We will review the issue and work with you to find an appropriate resolution.

13. Returns

Our products are handmade and, in some cases, made specifically for an order. Return eligibility therefore depends on the type of product and reason for return.

Where a return is approved:

• The customer is generally responsible for return shipping costs.

• The original shipping fee is non-refundable.

• Products must be returned in the condition in which they were received.

• Additional conditions may apply to customized or made-to-order products.

Please contact our customer service team before sending any item back. Do not return an order without receiving return instructions from Mawu Africa.

14. Handmade & Made-to-Order Products

Many Mawu Africa products are handmade by independent African makers.

As a result, products may have variations in colour, texture, pattern, dimensions or finish. These characteristics are part of the nature and uniqueness of handmade products and are not necessarily considered defects.

Where a product is made to order, the production timeline stated on the product page will apply before the item is dispatched.

15. Need Help With Your Shipment?

If you have questions about shipping, customs, delivery times or DDP shipping, please contact our customer service team at support@mawuafrica.com before placing your order whenever possible.

We are happy to help you understand the available shipping options and provide guidance on your shipment.