Shopping in Dakar is famous with all those who visit the country. The city offers good and plenty of exotic items to buy for near and dear ones. So Shopping in Dakar must be included in ones itinerary.
Dakar has plenty of traditional shops to visit. But, it is the large markets were one can avail the best variety and bargains. Among the important ones are the Kermel and the Sandaga, both in downtown Dakar. Equally famous is the Soumbedioune Village, a short taxi ride away. Each of these markets has its specialties.
While the Kermel offers fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers the Sandaga specializes in clothes and fabrics. The Soumbedioune sells plenty of art and craft items. Other markets in Dakar specialize in fabrics or exotic gold and silver jewellery.
The markets of Dakar specialize not only in items from West Africa but also from elsewhere on the continent. The Soumbedioune is an open-air crafts market with dozens of canopied stalls. One can find wood carvings, baskets, tie-dyed clothing, jewellery and leather goods.
In the Sandaga, housed in and around a large beige building at Avenue William Ponty and Lamine Gueye one can find the blousy cotton pants that Senegalese men wear at a cheap price. Fabrics and leathers goods also abound here.
The Kermel market, offers everything from foods and flowers to baskets and bronzes all arranged in enticing rows.
At Samba Beye stall in the Kermel, one can find bronze figures ranging from a few inches to several feet high. Another unit in the Kermel Market features paintings on glass which are created by etching and then painting on the back of a piece of glass. The images are usually done in soft colors and often depict scenes of village life. Here, one can also find the basket man, weaving cane. One can choose from hundreds of woven baskets
Other than these three major markets, Dakar also has a number of specialty markets. For fabrics the Marche H.L.M., which is near public housing in the city's Medina section is very famous. There one can wander around a number of stalls stacked high with cottons and silks in vibrant solids, stripes and prints. Those interested in jewelry must visit Cour des Maures, the silver and gold market on Avenue Blaise Diagne, a short distance from downtown. This market offers jewelry made of gold, ebony and other materials.
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