CONGO SQUARE

Filled with music, art, and energy, the Congo Square African Marketplace is alive with the culture and spirit which helped create the jazz and heritage for which New Orleans is known.  You will find an array of local, national, and international artisans exhibiting ancient crafting techniques, as well as modern variations and adaptations of those techniques.  Enjoy the exchange of wares, customs, and ideas that embodies a true marketplace experience as you encounter people and art from throughout the African Diaspora.  While at the market, be sure to visit the Sankorè Pavilion’s celebratory exhibit, Sacred Art of the African Diaspora, featuring demonstrators from New Orleans, Haiti, and Senegal.

Sculptures, paintings, handcrafted leatherworks, ceramics, jewelry and wearable art are just a few of the treasures that can be found in Congo Square’s 52 booths, including the 4 Artist Demonstration areas. Traditional art making techniques from various cultures of the African Diaspora are featured in the Congo Demonstration booths.  The highlighted crafts include Tanzanian furniture making, Zimbabwean stone sculpture, Haitian oil painting, leather crafts, wood carving, and collages