African Gifts Online

Saturday December 17, 2005

I found an excellent online shop called Africa Imports. They sell all kinds of African merchandise which would make perfect Christmas or Kwanzaa gifts. You can buy fabrics (including kente and mudcloth), clothes, musical instruments, furniture, toys, jewelry and more. The prices are very reasonable and they are based in New Jersey which works out well for people living in the US.

Some of my favorite items are:

Malawian chair. I grew up with these beautifully carved chairs and their unique design makes them remarkably comfortable to sit on.
Tuareg Silver Jewelry. Made by the Tuareg Nomads in North Africa, this jewelry is certainly unique and very skillfully made.
Banana Leaf Art. Made in Kenya and very affordable, you can get cards, paintings and wall hangings all made from banana leaves.
Flags of Africa. If you've traveled anywhere in Africa and you're like me, you'll want to indulge your nostalgia with a large flag. You don't often get a chance to show off your patriotic feelings about countries like Malawi, Zambia or Tanzania. So make an African flag a centre piece in your home, it's always a good conversation starter.