Markets, crafts and shopping in Conakry

A city of markets

Trade sets the rhythm of life in Conakry. The big markets, where you can find absolutely anything, now sit alongside modern malls and designer boutiques. For a visitor, the finest souvenir is often a fabric chosen at the market and handed to a tailor, who will turn it into a boubou or a made-to-measure outfit within a few days.

Popular markets are also very crowded places: go in the morning, with a closed bag, few valuables and, ideally, with someone who knows the place. Sellers are often warm and curious: a greeting at the start of the exchange opens many doors, and a few words of French go a long way.

The big markets

Bazin and made-to-measure

Bazin is the fabric of big occasions in Guinea: weddings, naming ceremonies, Tabaski and the end of Ramadan. Its damask weave catches the light, and its dyeing, often done by hand, gives deep colours. Buy it by the metre or by the length, then take it to a neighbourhood tailor, who will take your measurements and suggest designs. Allow a few days, longer before the festivals, when workshops run at full speed.

Another textile treasure: indigo from the Kindia region, worked by women’s cooperatives using resist techniques. If you take a trip towards Kindia, it is the perfect chance to bring a piece home.

To combine market visits, fittings and alterations, it helps to be well settled: Diatigui offers furnished apartments in Conakry, in Kaloum, Minière or Kipé, close to the main shopping areas.

Modern, air-conditioned shopping

Understand before you buy

At the tailor’s: how it works

1. Bring a photo of the design you want, or ask for advice: tailors have a sharp eye for current cuts.
2. Have your measurements taken and agree on price and timing before leaving the fabric.
3. Plan an intermediate fitting if your stay allows, for adjustments.
4. Book early before festivals: workshops are extremely busy then.

For a first time, going with a relative or friend who already has a trusted tailor is the best shortcut. Many diaspora families keep the same workshop from one trip to the next, and a good tailor quickly becomes part of the holiday routine. It is also worth asking for a little extra fabric to be kept aside for future alterations, and for the outfit to be finished a day or two before your departure, so there is time for a final touch-up. The result — a garment cut for you, in a fabric you picked yourself — is a souvenir you will wear for years, at weddings and family gatherings back home.

What to bring back from Conakry

• A length of bazin or a made-to-measure outfit.
• An indigo-dyed piece from the Kindia region.
• Handmade jewellery, sculptures or instruments from artisans.
• Spices, fonio or local coffee bought at the market.
• A work by a contemporary Guinean artist spotted at an exhibition.

Between the colourful bustle of Madina and the air-conditioned calm of Prima Center, Conakry offers two faces of shopping. The best often lies in between: a fabric chosen with care, and a tailor who turns it into a one-of-a-kind piece.