Tinga Tinga Arts Cooperative Society — Attraction in Dar es-Salaam

After exploring art markets in Arusha, Bagamoyo, and Stone Town, I can confidently say that this one in Dar Es Salaam tops the list in terms of variety and pricing. What sets the Tinga Tinga Arts market apart is the inclusion of a studio and workshop where you can observe the artists in the act of painting. While many of the paintings might seem generic at first glance, a closer look reveals some original ideas as well.

What I particularly loved about the Tinga Tinga market is the diversity of painted crafts available, such as trays, cutlery, pens, pencils, bottles, and more. It's a place that makes it incredibly difficult to leave without making a purchase. If you're in Dar Es Salaam, this is a must-visit destination. Here, I found that a painting, which was being sold for $60 in Arusha, had a starting price of $40 without even engaging in bargaining.

I'd like to emphasize that it's essential not to haggle too aggressively. These are hardworking artists who rely on their craft to make a living. It's reasonable to negotiate for a price that both you and the artist find fair. All in all, Tinga Tinga was definitely the highlight of my Dar stopover, and I couldn't recommend it...

We spent about an hour here. We had an experience different from the other reviewers. Many of the artists were pushy for us to buy their art. There also was a lot of repetition in the pieces they made (both as individuals and across artists). It appears that the shop makes some profit that the artists share, a bit like how the woodcarvers work at the Mwenge market. Many pieces are sloppy, and it takes time to sift through generally unorganized stacks of work to find items that appealed most to us. It would’ve been nice for the artists to explore their own styles and provide that background. Outside of the cooperative, we’ve found more variety and attention to detail from some artists and in some shops. Pricing here is more straightforward, and the shopkeeper is kind. Smaller canvases started at 35,000 TSH each. We bargained down a...

Authentic Tanzanian arts, some arts are unique but some of them are just lot a look alike in many other shops in this artists community center. Anyone going to Slipway beach can stop here and visit easily, just about 500m fefore Slipway.

2ftx3ft arts I bought were marked with 85K TZS but they gave a good discount. Very friendly people there, but you need to have an artistic eye to pic the good from ordinary. I bought multiple large painting coz they look Authentic and also nice, and also in the mindset of helping the community. They only take cash. They remove the arts canvas from the frame and roll it if you will be travelling, but I prefer you find a protective case to carry them without any damages in transit. Definitely recommend...