Francesca Fabrics (© Vizualeyez Ltd)
The best capital places for food, fabric, fashion and music, as well as a round-up of markets selling African goods and produce
Francesca Fabrics (© Vizualeyez Ltd)
Books, music, film | Fashion | Health & beauty | Markets | Textiles
Books, music and film
Arthur Probsthain
This bookshop has been going strong for over 100 years, stocking titles on African culture, art, literature, religion, performing arts and theatre.
41 Great Russell St, WC1 (020 7636 1096/www.oriental-african-books.com) Russell Square tube.
Centerprise Bookshop
Specialists in black writing and books about Africa, including children’s titles.
136-138 Kingsland High St, E8 (020 7254 9632) Dalston Kingsland rail.
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Grant & Cutler
Browse the shelves or catalogue at G&C and you’ll unearth dictionaries in a wide range of African languages.
55-57 Great Marlborough St, W1 (020 7734 2012) Oxford Circus tube.
Headstart Books and Crafts
A long-established shop, devoted to books and crafts from, by, or about the African diaspora.
25 West Green Rd, N15 (020 8802 2838) Seven Sisters tube.
Jeppestown Press
This London-based publishing house provides an online mail order service for reprints of vintage African reference and history books.
www.jeppestown.com
Marifaa Books
Books and information ‘for, by and about black people’ from Africa, the Caribbean and Europe. Plus carvings, crafts, pictures, CDs and health and beauty products.
6 Bradbury St, N16 (020 7503 0300) Dalston Kingsland rail.
New Beacon Books
Specialises in black Britain and Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, African America and Asia, plus multi-ethnic children’s books. Mail order service.
76 Stroud Green Rd, N4 (020 7272 4889) Finsbury Park tube/rail.
Sterns Music
A huge distributor of African discs with a catalogue of 3,000 titles.
74-75 Warren St, W1 (020 7387 5550) Warren St tube.
Books, music, film | Fashion | Health & beauty | Markets | Textiles
Fashion
The African Waistcoat Company
Specialises in custom waistcoats with African designs made from the African cloth known as aso oke. Merging British tailoring with African craftsmanship, the shop also offers traditional robes.
33 Islington Green, Camden Passage, N1 (020 7704 9698) Angel tube. Weds-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12noon-6pm, or at any time by appointment.
Pempamsie
Shop selling African-inspired clothing from a host of designers, alongside jewellery, accessories and art.
102 Brixton Hill, SW2 (020 8671 0800) Brixton tube. Mon-Sat 10am-7pm.
Baye Fall
Unisex Senegalese tailor selling fabrics that can be made to measure.
7a Deptford Broadway, SE8 (020 8691 2422) New Cross tube/rail. Mon-Sat 10am-10pm.
Giwa
Specialists in Nigerian designs like buba, sokoto and iro.
40 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 (07960 892 460) New Cross gate tube/rail. 77 Middlesex St, London E1 (020 7247 2991) Aldgate tube. Mon-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat 11am-4pm.
Tina Atiemo
Modern African designer who designs womenswear and exclusive hand-made greeting cards that she sells from her Limehouse studio.
Tina Atiemo (020 7987 6855/www.tinaatiemo.com) By appointment only.
Nkwo
Nkwo Onwuka’s African-inspired designs have been called ‘Afro-boho’. Her collection is stocked in London stores including CC’s Dressing Rooms in South Woodford (020 8925 4533).
(07984 997 577/www.nkwo.co.uk).
African Connection
African fabrics can be bought from this small venue in Brixton, which also sells West African gold and accessories.
6 Tunstall Road, SW9 (0207 501 9445) Brixton tube/rail. Mon-Sat 9.30am-6pm.
Books, music, film | Fashion | Health & beauty | Markets | Textiles
Health & beauty
Adornment365
New inside Morley’s department store in Brixton, Adornment365 offers natural hair styling and treatment for locks and braids, as well as beauty treatments, massage, nutrition and reflexology. Open Tue to Sun.
Morley’s, 472-488 Brixton Rd, SW9 (020 7737 5533) Brixton tube/rail.
Morris Roots
With salons in Tooting, Fulham and Archway, Morris and his team are keeping busy providing all manner of treatments for Afro hair.
184 Tooting High St, SW17 (020 8672 8003), Tooting Bec/Tooting Broadway tube; 21 Fulham High St, SW6 (020 7731 7999), Putney Bridge tube; 357 Archway Rd, N6 (020 8347 6478) Highgate tube.
Nubian Natural
A source of skincare products based on traditional African ingredients.
3 Vining St, SW9 (020 7733 8277) Brixton tube/rail.
Books, music, film | Fashion | Health & beauty | Markets | Textiles
Markets
Brixton Market
Known as Europe’s largest Caribbean market, there are also plenty of African foodstuffs in the shops and stalls along its labyrinth of streets. Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm.
Brixton Station Rd, Granville Arcade, Electric Avenue, Station Arcade, Market Row, Tunstall Rd, SW9 (020 7926 2530) Brixton tube/rail.
East Street Market
Along the length of East Street you’ll spot stalls selling African food, and on nearby streets like Westmoreland Road you’ll find small pockets of African shops. Open Tue-Sat, 8am-5pm; Thur, Sun, 9am-5pm.
East St, SE17 (020 7375 0441) Elephant & Castle tube.
Petticoat Lane
Over 400 years old, Petticoat Lane Market is still a huge draw on Sundays. Along Middlesex Street are shops selling fabrics, popular with customers from African nations.
Middlesex St and nearby streets, E1. Liverpool St tube/rail.
Ridley Road Market
At what’s known (at least locally) as ‘Dalston Market’, African fare is among the exotic provisions on offer.
Ridley Rd, E8. Dalston Kingsland rail.
Rye Lane Indoor Market
Small enclaves in this indoor market are dedicated to African clothes, textiles, food, spices and music.
Rye Lane, SE15 (020 7732 2202) Peckham Rye rail.
Shepherd’s Bush Market
You’ll find African printed textiles among the stalls at this market, as well as fruit and vegetables from west Africa. Open Tue, Wed, Fri & Sat 8.30am-6pm, Sun 8.30am-3pm.
Uxbridge Rd and Goldhawk Rd, W12. Shepherd’s Bush/Goldhawk Rd tube.
Books, music, film | Fashion | Health & beauty | Markets | Textiles
Textiles
Adire African Textiles
This West African fabric outlet also sources and advises on vintage and contemporary African costumes for film, television and theatre.
Alfie’s Antique Market, 13-25 Church St, NW8 (020 7723 6066/www.adire.clara.net) Marylebone tube.
African Connection
This textile specialist also stocks French jewellery and accessories popular for African social occasions.
6 Tunstall Road, SW9 (020 7501 9445) Brixton tube/rail, Clapham North tube.
Afrique Fabriks
All manner of African fabrics are sold at this Dalston store.
134 Kingsland High St, E8 (020 7241 5127) Dalston Kingsland rail.
Flamingo Textiles
One of several textile shops along the edge of Petticoat Lane, Flamingo sells both bright and sombre cloths, mainly from west Africa.
75 Middlesex St, E1 (020 7247 4681) Liverpool St tube/rail. Also at 13 Goldhawk Rd, W12 (020 8740 0080) Goldhawk Rd tube.
Francesca Fabrics
This boutique-style, family-run business sells gorgeous west African textiles, with regularly changing window displays.
2 Wentworth St, E1 (020 7377 8886) Liverpool St tube/rail.
Glemk Fabrics
Gladys Amadi's upbeat manner makes a visit to this Dalston-based fabric shop a bit of a treat. Lace, prints, silks and brocaded fabric for African dress are what you'll find stocked in every nook and cranny.
124-126 Ridley Road, E8 (020 7923 0620) Dalston Kingsland rail.
Hello Dolly
Behind the doors of this store – named in homage to Barbra Streisand’s film – there’s usually a buzz of activity between the bartering West African clientele and the long-time owners of this business.
89 Middlesex St, E1 (020 7377 0814) Liverpool St tube/rail.
Joss Graham Oriental Textiles
This specialist in antique fabric from West Africa also stocks objects, masks and jewellery, with some items from South Africa as well.
10 Eccleston Street, SW1 (020 7730 4370) Victoria tube/rail.
Nasseri Fabrics
Nasseri in Brixton and its east London sister branch sell a vast selection of African textiles that draw in West African customers.
38 Atlantic Rd, SW9 (020 7274 5627) Brixton tube/rail. 41 Wentworth St, E1 (020 7375 2706) Aldgate East/Aldgate tube.
Rontex Fabrics
Rontex’s colourful printed wax and lace fabrics are persistently popular with its loyal West African client base.
11-15 Cricklewood Broadway, NW2 (020 8208 1236) Kilburn tube.
Sovereign Textiles
Specialises in unique and unusual West African textiles, wool, leather and fur. Retail and wholesale.
113 Mitcham Rd, SW17 (020 8682 1444) Tooting Broadway tube.
Vogue Fabrics
Predominantly from Holland, Vogue’s textiles are snapped up for occasions from weddings to christenings.
81 Middlesex St, SW1 (020 7730 4370) Victoria tube/rail.
Books, music, film | Fashion | Health & beauty | Markets | Textiles
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37 comments
As a Nigerian, I have written a christian book which is good for all people and would like to know how i can sell them in physical bookstores abroad.
Hello, Good day,
My name is Yewande and I work with Sophia D’Afrique, Togo, a company that packages and exports sweet TOGO GARRI, TAPIOKA and SOBO (BISAP) leaves. We would like to know if there is a market for our products in your area. We hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you.
Dear Manager, could you pls help get what the rent of 02 arena is for one nite. I would like to use the place for an event. Besides, I want to know the sitting capacity of the place. Hoping to hear from you thru my email.
Kind regards,
Tayo
I would like to replace my much used and loved soup bowl from Ghana - I have looked everywhere, perhaps someone might know where I can get another of these. It is a blackish colour, the bowl bit is scored so that it can be used to grind on, it looks handmade - anyone know what I am on about. My previous one was about 40 years old! Does anyone still make these and can you buy in the UK?
i am a french student and i am very interested in ethnical things, it is very good to put some address like this. i am studyind a master degree in international trade, i am looking for a 6 month internship in this sector so if somedy is looking for interns or have any e-mail addresses tell me please!!!
thank you
Hello Dear manager my name is Paul Smith a business man that travel around the world.My message to inform you that i will be waiting for you to send me a product quote from your store. so we could go on with a better deal.And i also pray for a long term business with you.
Best Regard
Does any one know where in London I can buy the cookbook Akwaaba : A Taste of Ghana by Sandra Amoako
Thanks
Sasha
The African Market @ Open the Gate is now taking place every saturday!!
Open the Gate, 33-35 Stoke Newington Road, Dalston N16
Most of the items are created by local African and Caribbean designers
Come and bring all your friends and family, they need your support!
Eth(n)ic Fashion, Jewellery, Homeware, Books, Toys...
Drumming circle, music, facepainting, homemade food...
A free event for the whole family
12pm till 6pm
Hi ,
Does anyone know where i can buy adire textile asap in East London pls
Adegoke Oludare - Am looking to buy Adire in London asap. Can you send me your number please.
Thanks
plz,kindly hook me shops selling adire and campala in london,am wishing to supply all d varieties they might needed such as batik,adire eleko[aro dudu]customized top,stiches,boubou,and many oters,thanks.
I'm looking for genuine African black soap of the highest quality. There is a guy in Dalston market who sells this type of soap with a lot of other African products but I'm not sure how long he has had the products for and if they have been stored properly while waiting to be sold. I'd be grateful for a recommendation from someone who knows what African black soap is like and where I can get a good quality product from here in London.
African Market @ Open the Gate
1 year Anniversary!!
Saturday 18th June 2011 , 12pm till 6pm
and every third saturday of each month
33 Stoke Newington Road, Dalston N16
Eth(n)ic fashion, jewellery, books, homeware, music, drumming circle, exotic dishes, face painting and much more...
Free Entry
Not to be missed!
infos:
openthegate.org.uk
afrodiva-ent.com
Hi Ben
You can get palmwine in Peckham rye market, they sell it in bottles at Bims Afro shop. you should be able to get it in Brixton as well but I've definitely seen it in Peckham.
Metro Textiles Corner Ltd has a Facebook account were you can see all the latest designs! Check it out!
Hi All,
Does anyone know where I can get hold of some Palm Wine?
My Fiancee's Dad is from Nigeria and I would like to surprise him when he comes to our wedding in a couple of weeks time.
Any help / info would be most appreciated.
Thanks
Ben