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Best Souvenirs from Sierra Leone to Take Home

Best Souvenirs from Sierra Leone to Take Home

Shopping is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Sierra Leone – our beautiful country is better known for its shining white sandy beaches and luxuriant nature.

Most visitors are not aware that Sierra Leone also has a thriving arts and crafts scene, and shopping for handmade souvenirs is an unmissable activity during a visit to the country, allowing you to take home with you a piece of Sierra Leonean culture.

To make matters even more interesting, there are no mass-produced souvenirs in Sierra Leone – more often than not you’ll be buying handicrafts from the person who actually made them, meaning you’ll be taking home something truly unique while supporting the local economy at the same time.

Are you in Freetown only for a couple of days but still want to squeeze in some beach time? Then, Lumley Beach is the perfect place for you!

Lumley Beach is about 4 km long and it’s only a short drive from the heart of Freetown. The beach stretches from the coastal neighborhood of Aberdeen, all the way south past the Freetown Golf Course. The beach and the seaside promenade running alongside it are very lively – you’ll see runners, street sellers, people playing beach volleyball, live music and people having barbecues over the weekend.

Lumley Beach is an entertainment zone and a great place to sit and watch the world go by, with a cold drink or something to eat from one of many beach restaurants. Lumley beach is buzzing on the weekend afternoons with families and couples eating and having fun. A walk along Lumley Beach is a quintessential Freetown activity.

The beach itself is wide and sandy, and the water is clean, but the setting is quite ‘urban’ – if it’s turquoise water and white sand you’re after, keep reading!

So, what are the best places to buy souvenirs from in Sierra Leone? In Freetown, you can’t miss Big Market located in the centre of town, a two-storey shopping paradise filled with market stalls selling all sorts of souvenirs. The market is divided into sections, each dedicated to a specific kind of product: textiles, woven baskets, woodworking and beads.
Besides Big Market, other good places to buy souvenirs in Sierra Leone are the handicraft market at River N.2 beach, part of the community association that runs the beach, providing employment opportunities for local women. You’ll also find handicraft stalls in tourist hotspots like Lumley Beach, especially during the weekends.

When shopping around Sierra Leone markets, haggling is expected, but do so respectfully as a few dollars may mean nothing to you, but can truly make a difference to local sellers.

Let’s have a look at the best souvenirs you can take home from Sierra Leone!

1. Wooden Objects

Sierra Leone has a long-running woodworking tradition, and wooden carved objects are one of the most popular souvenirs you can find around Sierra Leonean markets. From small objects like carved animals only a few inches high, to life-sized carvings or wall hangings depicting scenes of life in the countryside, wooden objects are one of the most exquisite souvenirs you can take home.

Wandering around the woodcarving section of markets, you’ll probably find some differences in the style of wooden objects, reflecting differences in the artistic style of various ethnic groups around the country. For instance, communities living in the forest like the Mende and Vai are known for their intricate details and smooth edges, while savannah groups (like the Temne and Loko) are characterized by straight lines and abstract styles.

2. Stone Carvings

Many countries forbid the import of wooden objects unless they come with a certificate, which may be hard to obtain if you are purchasing the item from a street vendor. In this case, fear not – stone carvings are a great alternative, also showcasing the variety of regional styles of ethnic groups from all over the country.

3. Textiles

Walking into Big Market or any other handicraft market in Sierra Leone, you’ll no doubt notice rows upon rows of colorful wax print textiles, a style of fabric omnipresent in Western and Central Africa. Textiles are available by the yard – if you have time, you can choose the pattern you like best and ask the seller to turn it into a garment for you, or you can also buy a selection of ready-made items.

Besides clothing, you can also find placemats, coasters, wallets, backpacks and many other items made out of colourful wax fabric, making for unique and unusual souvenirs for your friends and family.

4. Woven Baskets and other items

Woven items are another common souvenir to take home from Sierra Leone, provided your country allows the import of woven items. It is interesting to notice that whether carvers tend to be male, most weavers are female – buying from them is a wonderful way to support their livelihood, while taking home something unique.

Woven items are generally made with grass and reeds. You can find baskets of all shapes and sizes, woven placemats, as well as woven boxes where you can store your jewelry.

5. Beads

If you can’t spare much space, fear not – beads are the souvenir for you! In markets you can find necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other items made with shells, glass beads, palm kernels or other seeds.

To make imports easy, stick with glass beads – a unique ornament you can take home as a souvenir from Sierra Leone are waist beads, worn by local women around their waist. They have different cultural significance in various countries, but can also be worn as a fashion accessory. Alternatively, you can also get keyrings and small pouches adorned with beads.

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Subscribe For Updates

Discover unique places and one-of-a-kind experiences in Sierra Leone – delivered to your inbox monthly. Tell us a little bit about yourself, so that we can share the most relevant Salone Travel information with you.
Subscribe

*By subscribing to our newsletter you agree to receive email from us. The aim of our newsletter
service is to keep travelers and members updated about what’s new in Sierra Leone.

Facebook Instagram Youtube
Tankogonadye, BF
18°
Clear
2h3h4h5h6h
17°C
16°C
16°C
15°C
15°C
Tankogonadye, BF weather forecast for tomorrow ▸

© Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.

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