Souvenirs to Bring Back from Dakar: Textiles, Spices, Coffee, Art

From Dakar, people happily bring back textiles, handmade crafts, spices, coffee, bissap or baobab-fruit powder, and for a longer-lasting souvenir, an artwork. In Point E, the Ge'eza concept store gathers handmade crafts, design, fine groceries (spices, berbere, Ethiopian coffee) and art editions, on sale in person during restaurant hours, Tuesday to Sunday from 8am to 10pm.

Textiles

Fabrics are among the easiest souvenirs to slip into a suitcase. Printed cloth, dyed fabrics, wraps, scarves: you find them in shops, markets and from designers. Check the quality of the fabric by touch, ask how to care for it, and prefer pieces whose origin is explained to you. To compare with textiles from another African tradition, read the article on Ethiopian textiles.

Crafts

Pottery, basketry, wooden objects, jewellery, leather goods: Senegalese craft is rich. A good habit is to ask who made the piece and how, rather than looking only at the price. A handmade object is a little irregular, and that is its charm. Avoid products made from protected species, which may be banned from transport: if in doubt, do not buy them.

Spices and coffee

A spice fits anywhere. Berbere, the bold Ethiopian blend, is a souvenir of its own, which you can find in the grocery corner of the Ge'eza concept store. To understand it before buying, see the article on berbere. Ethiopian coffee is also offered, and goes with the coffee ceremony you can discover on site.

Bissap, bouye and local flavours

Bissap, a drink made from hibiscus flowers, and bouye, from the fruit of the baobab, are emblematic Senegalese flavours. You find them as dry products, easier to travel with than ready-to-drink bottles. Check the packaging, the date and the seal. If you bring back foodstuffs, check the rules of your arrival country, which vary and change.

Art editions and books

Art books, catalogues, posters, prints: editions are light, flat souvenirs, often very beautiful. The Ge'eza concept store offers some, alongside crafts and design.

An artwork

For a more striking souvenir, an artwork is a fine idea. The works shown at the gallery are available to acquire, with a price on request, a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist, and collection in Point E or shipping outside Dakar on a quote. For transport questions, see the article on shipping artwork from Dakar. The gallery page shows the available pieces.

Ideas by budget and luggage

• Little room in the suitcase: spices, coffee, bissap powder, small objects, art editions.
• A bit more room: textiles, scarves, craft pieces.
• A lasting souvenir: a work on paper or a small canvas, to carry home with its certificate.
• A gift for someone: an assortment of flavours, with a coffee and a spice, and a short note.

Practical tips

1. Buy your souvenirs early in your stay if you want time to compare.
2. Keep invoices, especially for valuable pieces.
3. Pack fragile objects well, and keep food products in their original packaging.
4. Check the rules of your airline and your arrival country.
5. Ask what is available before you make the trip.

The Ge'eza concept store

The online shop is coming soon. Meanwhile, everything is already on sale in person, during restaurant hours, or set aside for you by WhatsApp at +221 78 660 07 07. For details, see the concept store page. The place is at 656 avenue Birago Diop in Point E, with a gallery lounge, a glass-roofed room and a terrace under the trees: you can have lunch, take a coffee, then leave with your purchases.

Giving rather than keeping

A souvenir can also be a gift. For a colleague, a coffee and a spice with a note are enough. For a loved one, an art edition or a small craft piece is chosen to their taste. In a professional or diplomatic setting, a carefully chosen artwork is a strong gesture: see our article on the diplomatic gift.

Where to buy in Dakar

You find souvenirs in shops, craft markets, from designers and in concept stores. Compare before buying, and keep in mind that a very low price can hide lower quality or poorly paid work. The purchases with a story, a name, a face, are the ones you remember best.

Packing your souvenirs

Wrap spices and coffee in sealed bags inside a sturdy box or pouch, so the scent does not spread to clothes. Roll textiles rather than folding them sharply. Keep breakable crafts in the middle of the suitcase, cushioned by clothing. Keep the receipts for anything of value, and check the rules of your airline for liquids and food items before you fly.

A souvenir with a story

The best souvenirs are the ones you can explain. A spice you tasted at lunch, a coffee you watched being roasted, a craft piece whose maker you met: each carries a memory you can tell again at home. Take a note of where and from whom you bought each item, and you will enjoy it more when you are back.