Life & Work

So much to see and buy at vast and vibrant craft fair

art fair

One of the many craft fairs in Nairobi. PHOTO | FILE

The oldest, largest and most influential craft fair in Kenya came and went earlier this month at the Racecourse grounds in Nairobi. And while a myriad of other craft fairs have cropped up since 1976 when the first craft fair was born, none can compare with the combination of quality and quantity that is traditionally found at the Nairobi Craft Fair.

Unique collection

It’s a fair that actually requires two full days to give proper attention to the sheer variety of items that are brought in from all over the country – and the region – to be part of this amazing showcase of high-quality crafts.

This year, many of items on display—be they beds, bags, hand-woven baskets, beaded birds or even books – sold well on the first day, although I’m told Sunday sales were even better than in years past.

But sales were just one reason why vendors carried their goods all the way from the Rift Valley, the coast and even Kampala to take part in the Nairobi Craft Fair. For some, it’s the only time in the year they can see old friends. For others, it’s the prestige of being seen at the grandmother of Kenyan craft fairs. And for others, it’s their best outlet to expose and sell their unique collection of crafts.

This was certainly the case for centres like the Naivasha Children’s Home where rehabilitated street children create beautifully-beaded wire creatures, from owls and Crested cranes to lizards, spiders and frogs.

Calendar

What’s also appealing about the Nairobi Fair is the fact that one can actually buy holiday gifts that could range anywhere from Sh100 up to over Sh100,000.

For instance, I got a pair of lovely mother of pearl earrings for Sh100. Jewellery made out of sterling silver, gem stones, bronze and aluminium was by far the biggest sale item, but there was so much more to see.

Probably the two most visited spots were Kengele’s where beers, sodas and hot drinks were served under a giant tent that protected people from the current Nairobi hot sun, and Brown’s Cheese, which, despite being at the far end of the vast Racecourse grounds, was crowded with customers and cheese-lovers who simply enjoyed tasting the free samples of almost every type of cheese prepared at Brown’s farm in Limuru— from gouda, feta, Camembert and Brie to Parmesan, cheddar and pepper-corn covered cream cheese.

My favourite spot was Fatuma Weavers where Fatuma Noor was selling hand-made baskets from Harare, Addis Ababa and Kampala as well as from Turkana and the Nubian side of Kibera in Nairobi.

Make sure to put the Nairobi Craft Fair on your 2015 calendar now so you’ll not miss it next year.