Mwenge Woodcarvers Market

Mwenge Woodcarvers Market, on Sam Nujoma Road in the Mwenge area of northern Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is the city's best-known souvenir and handicraft market. It grew around woodcarvers, many of Makonde heritage from southern Tanzania, who carve ebony (mpingo) and other hardwoods into figures, masks, animals and the tall ujamaa family-tree sculptures. Alongside carvings, rows of small workshop-stalls sell Maasai beadwork and shields, Tingatinga-style paintings, batiks, kanga and kitenge cloth, woven baskets, soapstone, jewellery, drums and carved chess sets. Many stalls are run by the artisans or their families, so visitors can often watch carving in progress, but the market also contains large amounts of mass-produced items and imported trinkets; the ratio of genuine hand-carved ebony to cheaper stained softwood varies by stall. Bargaining is the rule and opening asking prices for carvings are commonly several times the final price, with patient negotiation often bringing sizeable reductions. Cash in shillings is preferred, US dollars are sometimes accepted, and card payment is uncommon. No tax-refund scheme applies to purchases. Export of items made from protected woods may be restricted, so visitors buying large ebony pieces should ask for a receipt and check current export rules. The atmosphere is lively and persistent, with sellers calling to passers-by, though many visitors find it relaxed compared with the central markets. The stalls are laid out in lanes under shade structures; wood carvings fill the main central rows, with paintings, textiles and jewellery toward the edges. There are small food stalls and snack vendors nearby, and the nearby Mlimani City Mall and the Village Museum make this an easy stop in a half-day of shopping. Staff at larger stalls can arrange packing and shipping of bulky pieces.