The Congo Square African Marketplace at Jazz Fest features an array of local, national and international artisans showcasing ancient crafting techniques and modern adaptations. Visitors can view, learn more about and purchase African art, jewelry, clothing, musical instruments and more.
Papa Sene, one of the vendors in the marketplace sells African arts and instruments.
“I have lived here now for about 10 years,” he said. The instruments he sells are from “all over Africa,” he said.
At his booth, tourists and locals can play African percussion instruments including a variety od drums as well as shekeres and balafons, a type of xylophone that can be found throughout West Africa.
Seller Anastasia Baah sells her own handcrafted, authentic African clothing from Ghana. Her business, AnnaTeiko Designs in Maryland, has been participating at Jazz Fest for three years.
“We deal with authentic African fabrics, and we deal from women to men, sometimes we have children’s stuff,” said Baah. “We love New Orleans, it’s beautiful over here and they love our products too, both white and Black” she said.