Dávid from Zambia – XXI. Blog Post

During our visit to Lusaka, we took a tour around the famous and renowned Sunday Craft Handmade Village, which is highly respected not only in Zambia but across Southern Africa. This place is better known as the "Local Crafts Village" in English. Despite the name, it resembles more of a market than a village, although the area is quite large. Here, only local artisans are allowed to sell their handmade goods in exchange for a small fee. In Lusaka, there are many similar craft tents, villages, and areas, but the one we visited is by far the most famous, and I must say, rightfully so.

Strict rules and traditions govern the selling process. First of all, only locals whose ancestors were also artisans or craftsmen can sell their products here. Additionally, only HANDMADE products are allowed. No Chinese-made trinkets! That's strictly forbidden. If anyone is found selling such items, they are banned from the market forever, along with their entire family, for generations.

These rules have helped maintain the respect for Zambian craftsmanship and various art sectors for decades, ensuring that their traditions are strongly preserved.

The prices here are quite high. No one should be surprised if they visit. There are wooden sculptures here that take more than 7 months to make and are sold for nearly 200,000 HUF. Some bracelets and traditional African wooden plates with unique patterns can take up to two days of work and are sold for around 5,000 to 20,000 HUF. Smaller items like necklaces, bracelets, and trousers are of course cheaper (but all of them are of excellent quality).

The atmosphere of the village/market is very pleasant, though the locals can be a bit pushy. Sometimes it feels like they won't let go (buy something concept...), but it's definitely worth sitting down and talking to the older vendors. They are true guardians of tradition and can share a wealth of knowledge about the country, its culture, legends, or myths.

Who loves handmade products? What's your favorite? Bracelets, necklaces, dream catchers, or something else?

~ April Highlights