Diaspora Marketplace

Located just down the street from the Civil Rights Museum, this store is a wonderful place to buy keepsakes from West Africa, with much of the inventory hailing from Burkina Faso. It’s a remarkable find, because the small store offers a rich and diverse selection of handiwork that I have not seen together all in one place before.
I was thrilled to see a medium-​size ballaphone which are so popular in Burkina Faso. It’s basically a rustically made xylophone which gives off a great sound by using differently sized calabashes. They are much too large to buy in person and bring home, so if you want one you have to have it shipped at quite the premium. Alternatively, you can just stop in here saving yourself quite the journey. More remarkably, they had a kora in stock. When I lived in Africa, I never saw one for sell. They are something you have to commission a skilled artisan to make specifically for you! Beyond the musical instruments, there was a great selection of masks, bronze sculptures, wood carvings, baskets, prêt-​à-​porter pagne and bassin, etc. So much nostalgia all in one space!
I talked with the owner a bit, and he was such a friendly guy. He visits SIAO, an international gathering of artisans from all over Africa, every two years in Ouagadougou and brings back a shipping container of goods. It’s funny because this place is exactly like a mini-​SIAO. And with everything already stateside and all the duty paid, you can have your hand at a rather nice selection of good quality art and the like. The markup is pretty reasonable given all the factors involved and when compared to comparable offerings in New York City. Definitely recommend, even if just for a visit!