Official Kabwata Cultural Village Page — Attraction in Lusaka Province

THE KABWATA CULTURAL VILLAGE

If you have respect for African culture then kabwata cultural village is a must see. This is a place situated in Lusaka Zambia, where you can find affordable hand-carved and curios. The kabwata cultural village is found on Burma Road, West Jacaranda Road Lusaka. This is definitely the best shopping stop place for tourists, this open air market comprises baskets, masks, drums, fabrics, stalls, selling carvings and more. Prices are cheap because you can buy directly from the workers who live here. Note : There's cultural performances that are held on weekends, probably this is one thing which is taking me back to this place. I personally had a great experience visiting this place I had tagged along a friend of mine from the US he is a musician. We got ourselves a lot of goodies I remember and we were so excited. My friend managed to get a drum and I got a weaved small bag and a lot more under budget. So the question am going to leave with you my friends is What's...

The day started off good there, with most stores selling the same items. Unfortunately in the heat of the vendors trying to sell their products and my partner was "accidentally" hit on the head by one of the vendors after she had declined to buy a product. Coincidentally, I also got struck while on the other side of the room when I declined to buy an over priced product.

Unlike my partner, I speak and understand the local language and when we declined to buy, I could hear the vendors express their frustration. One vendor even decided to shout at me when I brought an item I had seen three steps back to my partners attention, saying why am I telling her to look at an item I had seen when I was now at her store, bearing in mind she didn't have the item I was pointing out.

Over all the first 4 stores on the right as we entered and the single store on the left were ok. The incident that happened was in the women's hat on...

I have mixed feelings about Kabwata Cultural Village. While it offers a diverse array of Zambian and African art, the quality (and authenticity) can be hit or miss. Some pieces are genuinely beautiful and original, while others feel (read are) mass-produced and catered towards tourists. The prices, though generally affordable, can be inflated for foreigners. However, with some patience, you can uncover hidden gems. The 'village' has a lively atmosphere and (mostly) friendly vendors (that sometimes might be very pushy). Just be prepared to haggle and exercise discernment when making purchases. Overall, it's worth a visit if you're interested in some arty presents and don't mind a bit of a treasure hunt, but temper your expectations. It was just an OK experience (for me), especially after I visited some similar crafts markets in...