Lagos
An offspring of the great Glendora Books, Jazz Hole is primarily a book and record store. In this oasis of calm in the mile-a-minute city, sip tea in the…
Must-see shopping in West Africa
Accra
This shop, which stocks pretty dresses, hats, tops, accessories (including lush scented shea butter) and kids clothes in colourful fabrics, is part of a…
Cameroon
South of town, the Village des Artisans seems to produce more handicrafts than the rest of Cameroon combined. Get ready for some bargaining and banter –…
Lagos
Out in the gated Parkview estate, Quintessence sells artworks and crafts, with an especially good selection of clothes and some antique carvings and…
Cameroon
A huge, atmospheric complex of roofed stalls selling crafts from around Cameroon, but mainly the grasslands region. You can buy wonderful masks, baskets,…
São Tomé
Looking for a souvenir? This artisans cooperative contains a fantastic collection of wood carvings, by far the best in the city, and more limited…
Monrovia
A fair-trade initiative that brings together designers and producers from Robertsport. The assortment includes colourful bags and clothes. The group often…
Nouakchott
A gallery curating the very best work from Mauritanian artists and craftspeople. Periodically hosts exhibitions themed around art and artists in the…
Ouagadougou
A government-run cooperative with a wide range of crafts, ideal for souvenir-shopping without the hard sell. If you're not a fan of bargaining to death…
Burkina Faso
This brilliant initiative, a women's cooperative, recycles the millions of black sachets handed out with purchases across Burkina into chic handbags,…
Accra
Opened by sisters Lorraine and Loretta Ocloo, The Shop Accra was a first for the city. Not just a hip shop offering jewellery, fashion and all kinds of…
Senegal
Ndar Ndar is a delightful little shop, with a small coffee bar in front and a spread of CDs for sale in back. There's reggae, jazz, folk and, of course,…
Accra
The place to come for Ghanaian wax print fabrics, Woodin has proved so popular that there are branches throughout Ghana. If you've no time to find a…
Accra
A well-respected gallery with three neatly organised floors of painting and sculpture by established and up-and-coming Ghanaian artists. Every item has an…
Accra
Health conscious Ghanaians and expats alike fancy this weekly farmer-style market to top up on organically grown fruits and vegetables. There is also…
Accra
In this small tidy store, Charity Jobarteh sells crafts and souvenirs that she picks up on her journeys through West Africa and beyond. Next to the…
Accra
Surrounded by open-air carpenter workshops, this dusty wooden shack is stuffed with artefacts from all over West Africa. Nothing here is mass produced,…
Cabo Verde
In a scenic bend on the coastal road, Praia Shopping is a sleek shopping centre, with colourful clothing shops stocked with beach and casual wear, plus an…
Dakar
The covered Marché Kermel, behind Ave Sarraut and within walking distance of Marché Sandaga, sells a mixture of foodstuffs and souvenirs. It's mainly…
Dakar
The fabulous Marché des HLM is the best place to buy African fabrics. Hundreds of rolls of wax-dyed bazin cloth, vibrant prints, embroidered cloth, lace…
Senegal
Les Ateliers Tësss displays and sells beautiful woven textiles, which feature natural dyes and high-quality organic cotton. The remarkable gallery keeps…
Accra
A warren of stalls selling arts and crafts, known simply as the Arts Centre, this is the place to shop in Accra. The level of aggressive hassling may make…
Mindelo
A fine place to browse for gift ideas, Cap Vert Design has dolls, aprons, T-shirts, jams, wicker bottles for grogue, Batik paintings, wallets made of…
Lagos
Jankara Market is the largest market in Lagos and sells everything from tie-dyed cloth, trade beads and jewellery to pirate cassettes, pottery and…
Dakar
In the endless sprawl of street stalls here you can buy just about anything (as long as no one steals your purse): you'll find tapestries, wood carvings,…
Monrovia
Leslie sells his watercolour and acrylic paintings and is the go-to source of info on the Liberian contemporary art scene. He does not have a gallery per…
Sierra Leone
The top floor of the Big Market, or Basket Market, in downtown, has a larger selection than markets in Lumley. What makes this the best place to shop for…
Serekunda & Atlantic Coast Resorts
A delightful bookshop that stocks a good selection of West African titles, plus fiction and children's books. You'll also find a selection of African…
Conakry
This dark, covered market is a confusing warren of passageways and stalls piled high in fish, fruit, junk and even a few natural medicines, talismans and…
Senegal
You'll find vintage prints, old B&W postcards, photographic books about Saint-Louis, CDs and original African paintings (in back) at this clean, well…
Village Artisanal Soumbédioune
Dakar
Although it lacks the energy of other markets, this is a good place to browse for souvenirs of all kinds, including wooden masks, paintings, jewellery,…
Case Artisanale Villageoise d'Oussouye
Casamance
Near the centre of the village, this welcoming place sells a small selection of locally made crafts, including dolls, paintings, pottery (made in…
Accra
There's plenty to browse through here if you're looking for a souvenir, including handcrafted furniture, jewellery, textiles and clothing from around…
Conakry
Chaotic, colourful, smelly, fascinating and filthy dirty, the Marché du Niger is the city's most important market and a fun place to explore – just watch…
Dakar
The spacious Cocktail du Sénégal has a good selection of clothes, both for children and adults, along with a great variety of original gifts, souvenirs…
Serekunda & Atlantic Coast Resorts
A good place to pick up sculptures, batiks and souvenirs is this shaded open-air market on the main road. You can watch the carvers and craft makers in…
Sierra Leone
This is the place to find colourful local wax cloths and gara (Sierra Leonean tie-die), as well as get custom outfits made.
Lumley Beach Arts & Crafts Market
Sierra Leone
The Lumley Beach Arts & Crafts Market is a decent place to pick up woodcarvings, baskets and other souvenirs.
Malabo
Carved wooden crafts such as figurines and masks are on sale at the entrance to the Luna Complex.
