Did you Know About the Arts and Crafts Village in Abuja?
Nnenna Okeke
Arts and Crafts Village, Abuja, is a market for beautifully created African crafts. The centre, managed by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), is located in the city’s central district, between Sheraton Hotel (which is opposite its entrance gate), and Silver Bird Cinema (opposite its back gate).A unique attraction for visitors, the environment is serene, and the presence of trees and huts, from which crafts are displayed for sale, make it exceptional. The huts are traditional- round and brown with thatch roofs and wooden windows. Art works you can find at the market include paintings, pottery, fabrics, beads, wood crafts, metal works, hides and skin, and many more that are great ideas for souvenirs and design.The market is divided into the painting, craft, and textile sections. Though most of the sculptural pieces and items in the crafts section are made off site, it’s not uncommon to find artists creating their art pieces on site, like in the fashion and painting sections. In addition, there are professional artists in the painting section who might be available to coach aspiring artists.According to a report by Culture NG in September 2016, Mrs Dayo Keshi, the former Director-General, NCAC, said that the Arts and Crafts Village came into existence after it was used for the exhibition of arts and crafts during the 2003 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The present NCAC Director-General is Mr Otunba Olusegun Runsewe. Photo credit: Imo Chigboromogu Michael
