Center for National Culture
Center for National Culture
4
7:45 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
7:45 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
7:45 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
7:45 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
7:45 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
7:45 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
7:45 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
7:45 AM - 6:00 PM
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4.0
84 reviews
Excellent
29
Very good
38
Average
11
Poor
5
Terrible
1
Jazzumbo
Romania2,156 contributions
Jun 2021 • Solo
Ended up followed by a bunch of vendors, all of them trying to persuade me to visit their shops. I actually came here to see vintage Ashanti, Gouro and Baule masks. I was not interested at all in fabrics or statues of rhynos and hippos carved the day before. Basically, at some point, everyone was trying to sale me something, no matter what.
I managed to buy some lovely Gouro masks, although it was not easy. They asked for incredible cheeky prices and love to negociate. It seems that negociating is their main hobby. When you try to get a decent price, they start to make you to buy more.
I don't really recommend this place unless you have a lot of time to waste with stubborn vendors.
I managed to buy some lovely Gouro masks, although it was not easy. They asked for incredible cheeky prices and love to negociate. It seems that negociating is their main hobby. When you try to get a decent price, they start to make you to buy more.
I don't really recommend this place unless you have a lot of time to waste with stubborn vendors.
Written 1 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janice E
3 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
This was a great place to find some beautiful handicrafts from Ghana. Don’t be put off by the sellers who try to get your attention to buy something or that you need to haggle. That is half the fun. I’ve been to numerous handicraft centers throughout Africa and it is similar. They are not being rude - it is just different. I got some unique gifts to bring home. Now that I know where it is I will shop there again on my next trip.
Written 23 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ahmedalhadidi
Cairo, Egypt125 contributions
Oct 2013 • Solo
This place is known as "Art Centre". If you are a souvenir fan like myself, then this is the place to go. The place consists of 100's of small shops selling everything handmade from African masks, to carved wood, to paintings, crafts, etc.
When you enter, you will find many people approaching you an a bit aggressive way to buy from them. Just smile and walk away. Sellers are really aggressive but in a nice way but they will not leave you until you visit their shop.
Bargain, Bargain, Bargain...Do not be shy to offer one third of the price they will tell you. Rules of the game are known to them and to you. I got 2 wooden masks for just 10 Cides (5$). Same item will cost you 40$ in the Airport.
Unfortunately my time was too tight but I am happy that I got many things from there.
It is a place not to be missed.
When you enter, you will find many people approaching you an a bit aggressive way to buy from them. Just smile and walk away. Sellers are really aggressive but in a nice way but they will not leave you until you visit their shop.
Bargain, Bargain, Bargain...Do not be shy to offer one third of the price they will tell you. Rules of the game are known to them and to you. I got 2 wooden masks for just 10 Cides (5$). Same item will cost you 40$ in the Airport.
Unfortunately my time was too tight but I am happy that I got many things from there.
It is a place not to be missed.
Written 18 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Judith_MvB
Dakar, Senegal36 contributions
Feb 2019
Great market. I do suggest walking to the back of the market where the best local stands are. In the front you have a lot of Chinese imitation.
Written 26 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Megz416
New Orleans1 contribution
Aug 2017 • Solo
I visited Ghana for a conference but stayed about an hour away from the market. Our conference didn't give us anytime to shop so I took a cab out. I used an Uber on the way back to save money. It helps if you have an idea of what you want to buy before you get there. Many shops sell variations of the same thing. I was on a task to get wooden masks and coral bead necklaces. I read the reviews ahead of time and strolled past many trying to get me to look into their shop and headed towards the back of the market. Be aware that if you are African American or Black, many will play on emotions of being "at home" and call you sister or brother. It is nice coming from the diaspora except this is often just a ploy to get you to buy something and that part sucks but I guess that's the game. Anyway, I actually bought the majority of my masks from the first stall I stopped in because I knew about what the prices should be (about 25-40 cedi for medium and large masks) and either way I felt they were fair for all the hand crafting they do. I watched him bead several masks. There where some REALLY large ones in his shop that were a few feet high and very detailed. If you are looking for those sorts of pieces they are there! Be prepared to ship them back home, lol. I actually got ripped off according to my Ghanaian friends when it came to the coral necklace. I paid $50 usd for two long necklaces (one with thick beads, and one with smaller beads). I had nothing to gauge the price against except the prices of similar necklaces online which were about $70-$100 usd for one. My friends said I shouldn't have paid more than 20 cedi so if you're looking for coral bead necklaces be aware. The man that got over was older and had a stall of mostly jewelry somewhat towards the middle/back of the market. If I were to do it again I'd get more smaller masks (I got 2 for $3 usd), fabric fans with leather handles (they were 12-15 cedi each), beaded leather sandals, the coral necklace and bracelets at a lower price, carved bowls, waist beads, fabric, etc. The best advice is make a list of who and what you want to give and always buy a few extras. Avoid the cheap run of the mill stuff like keychains and shot glasses. The prices are so good you can afford to get everyone something unique!
Written 25 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
paulven
Vancouver, WA10 contributions
Jun 2017 • Solo
I wanted to do some last minute shopping for local crafts after a busy week in Ghana. The market stalls at the Centre for National Culture suited my purpose well. Contrary to what you might see on the Centre's website or other sites, the market stalls ARE OPEN on Sunday; only the visitor centre/museum is closed that day.
I wanted to find some authentic batiks, jewelry and kente cloth pieces and that's what I purchased. There are dozens of stalls with clothing, beadwork, fabrics, weavings, masks, pottery, paintings and other crafts. As other reviewers have noted, you have to be prepared for the aggressiveness of the vendors and their agents. You'll be set upon immediately on your arrival -- one man approached the Uber car I came in and escorted me as soon as I exited the car. He seemed to serve as a broker for other shops as he "stuck" with me as I visited other stalls. Not everyone was as aggressive as he was, but you have to be insistent. An advantage is having someone help you find just what you're looking for if you have limited time, like I did. But it's a disadvantage if you just want to stroll and browse.
This is not a quiet shopping mall, but a cavern of cacaphony, with sellers competing vigorously for your money. Know what you're willing to spend; set a top limit and stick with it. Research what items should sell for before you venture into the melee. Your hotel gift shop or those in one of the Accra malls will give you a baseline before trying to bargain. Typically, a vendor will quote a starting price of two to three times an item's value. Offering half or 40% of that price to start will keep the negotiation going. Suggesting a price well below 30% may or may not end the negotiation but it will indicate to the vendor that you're not familiar with the item's worth and that can make you open to stronger appeals.
Often vendors will try to get you to buy something you have no interest in. One insisted that I look at a large stack of watercolor paintings one by one, even when I said I had no interest in buying paintings that day. That's when it's best to speak with your feet and move assertively to another stall. In fact, trying to explain or defend your reasons for not buying something is futile: just move away. It's not rude to do so and other vendors will be grateful for the chance to show you their wares. While at the market, you may find a tour group arrive on their bus. This can be a godsend, as the vendors and agents will immediately swarm around the new arrivals, allowing you to venture off on your own, if even for a few precious minutes.
I recommend this market for its variety and if you have an idea of what items sell for in higher-priced shops you'll likely pay a fair price here. One vendor even threw in a couple of free key chains (which I wouldn't have paid for) because I paid a price for a couple of small kente cloth bags that both he and I agreed was fair. Bargaining can be enjoyable, but don't be bullied into paying any price, no matter how low it seems, for something you really don't want.
And don't wait to do your souvenir shopping at the Accra airport. Prices are truly outrageous there, especially in the so-called Duty Free shop. I saw small wooden masks selling for 3 to 5 times the price in the National Culture market.
I wanted to find some authentic batiks, jewelry and kente cloth pieces and that's what I purchased. There are dozens of stalls with clothing, beadwork, fabrics, weavings, masks, pottery, paintings and other crafts. As other reviewers have noted, you have to be prepared for the aggressiveness of the vendors and their agents. You'll be set upon immediately on your arrival -- one man approached the Uber car I came in and escorted me as soon as I exited the car. He seemed to serve as a broker for other shops as he "stuck" with me as I visited other stalls. Not everyone was as aggressive as he was, but you have to be insistent. An advantage is having someone help you find just what you're looking for if you have limited time, like I did. But it's a disadvantage if you just want to stroll and browse.
This is not a quiet shopping mall, but a cavern of cacaphony, with sellers competing vigorously for your money. Know what you're willing to spend; set a top limit and stick with it. Research what items should sell for before you venture into the melee. Your hotel gift shop or those in one of the Accra malls will give you a baseline before trying to bargain. Typically, a vendor will quote a starting price of two to three times an item's value. Offering half or 40% of that price to start will keep the negotiation going. Suggesting a price well below 30% may or may not end the negotiation but it will indicate to the vendor that you're not familiar with the item's worth and that can make you open to stronger appeals.
Often vendors will try to get you to buy something you have no interest in. One insisted that I look at a large stack of watercolor paintings one by one, even when I said I had no interest in buying paintings that day. That's when it's best to speak with your feet and move assertively to another stall. In fact, trying to explain or defend your reasons for not buying something is futile: just move away. It's not rude to do so and other vendors will be grateful for the chance to show you their wares. While at the market, you may find a tour group arrive on their bus. This can be a godsend, as the vendors and agents will immediately swarm around the new arrivals, allowing you to venture off on your own, if even for a few precious minutes.
I recommend this market for its variety and if you have an idea of what items sell for in higher-priced shops you'll likely pay a fair price here. One vendor even threw in a couple of free key chains (which I wouldn't have paid for) because I paid a price for a couple of small kente cloth bags that both he and I agreed was fair. Bargaining can be enjoyable, but don't be bullied into paying any price, no matter how low it seems, for something you really don't want.
And don't wait to do your souvenir shopping at the Accra airport. Prices are truly outrageous there, especially in the so-called Duty Free shop. I saw small wooden masks selling for 3 to 5 times the price in the National Culture market.
Written 13 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ronnie Czyz
Preston, MD285 contributions
Aug 2016 • Solo
I was impressed by the size and number of vendors available in this market. Having traveled before in Benin and Cote d'Ivoire, I'm used to pushy sellers in markets and too-close-for-comfort stalls. Thus, it was to be expected when I arrived at the Centre for National Culture for a little souvenir shopping.
On the positive side of things, there was a vast number of items for sale from clothing to fabrics to masks and tribal artwork, not to mention the number of "original" paintings. What I didn't appreciate were the pushy sellers. These were the pushiest and worst that I've experienced in the region and I found that they "ganged" up on shoppers . . . if one vendor didn't have what you wanted, they'd insist they take you to another stall and then you'd have two, sometimes three or four, vendors approaching you at once so clearly they were getting a cut of the final sale. I also found that their offering prices were unreasonably high, even in the culture of bargaining. No matter what I asked about in terms of tribal art, masks or kinte cloth, everything started at 650 cedis, about $170 . . . way over priced. I found myself buying one item just to get away from the sales people.
If you're in Accra, I'd definitely say the market is worth a visit with the caveat that you go with a local friend or hire a local driver (who won't just take you to his friend's stall) to do the bargaining for you or at least assist in making the final deal. I've never left an African market not feeling stressed and tired but I've never felt as stressed and tired as when I left the Centre for National Culture. I love learning about other cultures and experiencing them . . . I only wish that African sales people would learn that they'd do better with American shoppers by just letting them look. When we say we're just browsing, really . . . we're just browsing!
On the positive side of things, there was a vast number of items for sale from clothing to fabrics to masks and tribal artwork, not to mention the number of "original" paintings. What I didn't appreciate were the pushy sellers. These were the pushiest and worst that I've experienced in the region and I found that they "ganged" up on shoppers . . . if one vendor didn't have what you wanted, they'd insist they take you to another stall and then you'd have two, sometimes three or four, vendors approaching you at once so clearly they were getting a cut of the final sale. I also found that their offering prices were unreasonably high, even in the culture of bargaining. No matter what I asked about in terms of tribal art, masks or kinte cloth, everything started at 650 cedis, about $170 . . . way over priced. I found myself buying one item just to get away from the sales people.
If you're in Accra, I'd definitely say the market is worth a visit with the caveat that you go with a local friend or hire a local driver (who won't just take you to his friend's stall) to do the bargaining for you or at least assist in making the final deal. I've never left an African market not feeling stressed and tired but I've never felt as stressed and tired as when I left the Centre for National Culture. I love learning about other cultures and experiencing them . . . I only wish that African sales people would learn that they'd do better with American shoppers by just letting them look. When we say we're just browsing, really . . . we're just browsing!
Written 7 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
moviegeekjn
Phoenix, AZ2,355 contributions
Apr 2015 • Solo
If you seek a one stop shopping area for Ghana souvenirs, this is THE place to go in Accra. However, be prepared for continual haggling since each shop is competing for the same few customers--the barrage can be very overwhelming. Go with your "armor" because softheartedness and indecision are quickly preyed upon. They are very aggressive and try to make you feel guilty if you do not visit their shop "for a look."
You MUST drive a hard bargain once you do decide on a particular souvenir. AND be very watchful at all times.... I did drop my guard a bit at the end of my "shopping spree" to get a couple of cheap trinkets as gifts from one neighboring stall lady, who pretended to be "hurt" that I hadn't bought from her. I had previously be wary of her due to a potential scam I suspected when she was insisting that I transfer some purchased items to a larger bag.... but I didn't notice how she hid the last items in her palm instead of dropping them in my large bag, so she did end up scamming me (about $5 USD)
You MUST drive a hard bargain once you do decide on a particular souvenir. AND be very watchful at all times.... I did drop my guard a bit at the end of my "shopping spree" to get a couple of cheap trinkets as gifts from one neighboring stall lady, who pretended to be "hurt" that I hadn't bought from her. I had previously be wary of her due to a potential scam I suspected when she was insisting that I transfer some purchased items to a larger bag.... but I didn't notice how she hid the last items in her palm instead of dropping them in my large bag, so she did end up scamming me (about $5 USD)
Written 13 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wesley W
Washington, DC115 contributions
Dec 2014 • Solo
I felt like I was on Charity Row. Upon entering the compound I was immediately swarmed by heavy-handed shopkeekers, all hawking nearly identical trinkets. If you happened to allow your eyes to cast on ANY item you were immediately pounced upon. I heard "come...let me show you my shop" at least 100 times within the few minutes I was there. I guess its a cultural thing but it's an EXTREMELY annoying thing. While you're trying to simply window shop the keeper are trying to push anything on you they can with regard for what YOU are looking for. After purchasing a few Adinkra symbols I eventually left in disgust. I found the open air arts and crafts colony in Aburi much much much better.
Written 26 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colesterol
Tigre, Argentina402 contributions
Aug 2013 • Business
This is my favorite place in Accra: a large market with more than one hundred shops (more like kiosks, actually). You can find carved wood, paintings, African masks (new and old), canvas, chairs, baskets, figurines, etc. Pretty much everything but electronics, plastic stuff, food... you know what I mean. Just good crafts.
At first impression, sellers may be a bit aggressive. So if you are accustomed to a soft sell, this will be a different experience.
Some guys, mainly at the main entrance, will try to become your "friendly guide". Avoid them. My approach is to greet them back, but keep walking. Otherwise, you will not get rid of them during your whole stay at the market (and you may spend a lot of time there).
Sellers may insist that you walk into their shops and hold their products until you finally buy them.
This is up to you (obviously), but for me it has worked very well to ask for the price of only those things I really like, so as not to waste my time in futile negotiations.
The asking price may be two to three times what sellers are willing to receive for it. Even more so if it is a one-of-a-kind old mask or figurine. Well, you will have to use your own negotiating style, but please do not pay right up front what they are asking for!
There's lots of shops that sell exactly the same things (particularly if they are new crafts). So take some time and walk around before you start buying: best prices are generally found in those shops located far into the market. Almost hidden at the back.
There's also craftsmen working in the market. They are generally located at the far back of it, or along one of the sides of the market (ask for it, if you cannot find them). It's worth watching these artisans work.
I found the place very safe. I have gone with female colleagues who have ventured on their own for hours and met back with them. No complaints whatsoever.
But once again, you have to withstand the insistence of the sellers. I actually enjoy talking to them in a friendly way, but it this is not your style, this may not be a good place to visit.
At first impression, sellers may be a bit aggressive. So if you are accustomed to a soft sell, this will be a different experience.
Some guys, mainly at the main entrance, will try to become your "friendly guide". Avoid them. My approach is to greet them back, but keep walking. Otherwise, you will not get rid of them during your whole stay at the market (and you may spend a lot of time there).
Sellers may insist that you walk into their shops and hold their products until you finally buy them.
This is up to you (obviously), but for me it has worked very well to ask for the price of only those things I really like, so as not to waste my time in futile negotiations.
The asking price may be two to three times what sellers are willing to receive for it. Even more so if it is a one-of-a-kind old mask or figurine. Well, you will have to use your own negotiating style, but please do not pay right up front what they are asking for!
There's lots of shops that sell exactly the same things (particularly if they are new crafts). So take some time and walk around before you start buying: best prices are generally found in those shops located far into the market. Almost hidden at the back.
There's also craftsmen working in the market. They are generally located at the far back of it, or along one of the sides of the market (ask for it, if you cannot find them). It's worth watching these artisans work.
I found the place very safe. I have gone with female colleagues who have ventured on their own for hours and met back with them. No complaints whatsoever.
But once again, you have to withstand the insistence of the sellers. I actually enjoy talking to them in a friendly way, but it this is not your style, this may not be a good place to visit.
Written 24 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are the markets open on Sundays?
Written 8 September 2018
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