A Beginner’s Guide to Lekki Art Market

_{Goods for sale at Lekki Art Market, 2022. (Image by Notes on Hope)}

Lekki Arts and Crafts Market, also known as Oba Elegushi International Market, is a physical marketplace for all things related to Nigerian art. Imagine any form of local art you can think of ­– Lekki Arts and Crafts Market (abbr., Lekki Art Market) has something in stock.

Things to Know Before You Visit

Now before you venture off into the market to find your next piece of West African heritage, there are a few things you should know!

1. There are no ATMs

You can only pay for your items by cash or local bank transfer. There are no POS machines, so you cannot pay via credit or debit card. There aren’t any ATMs nearby either, so if you intend to pay with cash, grab some before you get on the Lekki-Epe expressway.

2. Parking Costs ₦500

Like most markets in Lagos, the parking fee is collected by a man who will approach you within the car park, holding a stack of receipts. There are two fenced, mid-size car parks. Usually, you pay after you park your car and before you enter the market. Make sure you collect a receipt and hold on to it!

3. There are Multiple Entrances

There are multiple routes into the market. The easiest way to get to Lekki Art Market is via Silverbird Road, off the Lekki-Epe expressway. Take the first right onto Elegushi Market Road, and you will be there in no time.

It is an upcoming area, so the roads are a work in progress. Some streets are quite deserted and feel less safe. Beware of alternative route suggestions if you are using Google Maps.

If you try to go via Lekki Beach Road (also off Lekki-Epe expressway), you’ll end up in the middle of Jakande Market waiting 25 minutes for annoyed market women to move their goods from the road whilst you squeeze your car through a crowd of pedestrians – speaking from personal experience.

Lekki Arts Market opens from 9 am to 5 pm daily. The best time to arrive is between 10 am and 4 pm when most stalls are likely to be open. By 5 pm, the vendors stop selling, so keep this in mind when you go.

9 Tips to Help You Make the Most Out of Your Next Visit

Whether you’re a novice like I was during my first trip, or you’ve been several times, here are some tips to help you make the most out of your Lekki Art Market experience.

1. Do your research 

Nigeria is a melting pot of culture and ethnic diversity, and Lekki Art Market reflects that 100%. You can find art and crafts from all over the country and beyond. What type of products are you looking for? What materials are you most interested in buying? These are questions you should really think about before you visit.

If you’re not knowledgeable about the items you want to buy, vendors will embellish their product descriptions and you might get home and realise that the ‘natural stone’ bracelet you paid for is actually made of plastic – again, speaking from experience.

The best strategy is to research the type of products you’re interested in buying beforehand, so you can discern higher-quality items within the market. There are some very high-quality gems in this place. To get the best value for your money, make sure you go prepared.

Price tags do not exist in Lekki Art Market. To know how much something costs, you’ll need to ask a vendor, who will likely decide their price based on their impression of you.

This isn’t uncommon at all. You will need to build some camaraderie with sellers if you want to get the best prices. A little sweet talk goes a long way.

If you find something you like, but don’t like the sound of the price, don’t be shy about haggling. It’s all part of Lekki Art Market’s charm!

3. Check the Weather

Lagos essentially has two types of weather – too sunny and too rainy. Arriving in the morning helps beat the Lagos heat, and all available stalls are usually open by 11 am. Take sun protection, but if you forget, you can buy beautiful fans and woven hats inside the market for affordable prices. There’s also a provisions section at the back of the market, so if you do visit when it’s scorching, make sure to buy a cold drink to stave off the heat and keep hydrated!

Try to avoid Lekki Art Market when it’s raining because poor drainage is an issue within the market and its surrounding roads and can ruin your experience. Elegushi road is in desperate need of maintenance, and when it rains, it’s almost impossible to get past without an SUV. Something to keep in mind for your next trip.

4. “Looking is Free”, So be Prepared to Browse

It’s usually considered rude to waste a seller’s time browsing their store if you don’t intend on buying anything, so I was incredibly surprised to visit Lekki Art Market and learn the phrase “looking is free.”

Vendors will typically insist that you enter their stalls to browse their products and even take pictures. They are happy to show you product after product because they understand that it usually takes a while to spot that one art piece that captures your heart.

Try not to fall for the first thing you see. Many stalls sell similar things, so you might find something you like even better or a similar item at a lower price in a different stall. Give yourself enough time to properly look around and you won’t regret it.

5. Don’t be Shy to say No

This might sound obvious, but Nigerians are very friendly people, and it can be hard to say no under pressure. Vendors in this market don’t mind you taking ages to browse their stalls and will lure you into banter and conversation in the meantime, all the while weakening your resolve. It also doesn’t help that Lekki Art Market has so many beautiful items on display. However, don’t be shy about putting your foot down and letting sellers know when you are not interested, even if you just happen to change your mind.

6. Try Before You Buy!

Make sure you are 100% satisfied with whatever you are buying. Although there are many beautiful crafts here, some traders might try and pawn off old or damaged items to make a sale. For example, I was sweet-talked into nearly buying a gorgeous bookcase when I checked the back and found out it was full of termites. Be sure to check for wobbly tables, broken chair legs and poorly framed paintings before you hand over your money, and if you’re not satisfied with anything, be vocal about it!

There are thousands of options and unique finds within Lekki Art Market. Taking pictures helps you document what you find and can be helpful if you ever want to buy something similar later on. Besides, the vendors encourage you to take pictures, so why not? You can always share your photos online and spread the word about this gem of a place.

Also, if you’re looking for something specific, or a particular design, make sure you come armed with pictures, otherwise, you’ll spend forever trying to describe whatever you’re looking for to the stall owners. Opportunistic sellers will even try to pawn off ‘similar’ items to whatever you’re describing. Long story short – pictures always help.

8. Custom Orders Are Welcome!

Being an Art Market, most of the items for sale are made by local artists and artisans. Many are even made within the market.

If you see something you like but have a more specific design in mind, you can talk to the vendors and place a custom order. This especially applies to furniture. Many vendors are artists and craftsmen with very creative design ideas, so you might be better off having something custom-made.

Just be wary of delivery times that seem too good to be true, and make sure you agree on all costs up front. It’s best to insist on a part payment structure (e.g., 50% upfront and 50% on completion), so you don’t have someone run away with your money. Also, be sure to collect contact information – many vendors have business cards. This adds to the legitimacy of the transaction and is useful for following up with your order.

9. Beware of Illegal Ivory Merchants

The global demand for ivory has claimed the lives of over 25 million African elephants in the last two centuries. The illegal ivory trade is not only responsible for the endangerment of Africa’s native wildlife but has also been linked to the large-scale illegal exploitation of African people, terrorist activity, and corruption.

Thanks to the National Environmental Regulations introduced by the Nigerian Federal Government in 2011, a wide range of transactions involving wildlife specimens – especially endangered animal products – are now illegal in Nigeria.

Unfortunately, Lagos happens to be a hotspot for the illegal ivory trade. A 2013 study by the British NGO, Traffic found that most of the ivory trafficked into Nigeria is imported from the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Nigeria, it is illegal to sell, purchase and possess imported wildlife specimens, including elephant ivory (part II, section 3). This is something to keep in mind if you encounter ivory merchants within the Lekki Art Market. The illegal ivory trade is a completely unethical practice that has devastating effects on the local and international community. Save yourself the risk of getting in trouble with local and international authorities. Don’t buy illegal ivory!

In Conclusion

Lekki Art Market is a gem for anyone interested in owning African art and crafts. It has beautiful items at every price point and is a safe, welcoming place to shop.

We hope that spotlighting Africa’s art hubs will help more people recognise the value spaces such as Lekki Art Market bring to our communities. Engaging with the African arts community supports the livelihoods of the artists that work hard to shape and preserve African culture. Without them, large portions of our cultural identity would be lost. Think about this when you visit Lekki Art Market and remember to try some of our tips!