African Marketplace

Come explore the African Marketplace, with a wonderful assortment of African art, clothing, crafts, musical instruments, CDs, and DVDs available for purchase. The Marketplace also provides an opportunity to learn about and support nonprofit organizations that are working with the people of Zimbabwe and Southern Africa. Your purchases from these nonprofits will benefit many lives in Southern Africa.

The centrally-located CWU Student Union & Recreation Center (SURC) will be headquarters for Zimfest 2025,  and the outdoor stage and African Marketplace will be located in a grassy, shaded area outside the northeast corner of the SURC. 

Lisa Carlson is the 2025 Zimfest Marketplace Coordinator.

2025 Vendor Applications are open. The application deadline is July 17th.

Zimfest 2022 Marketplace – photo by Larry Israel (click to expand)

Zimfest 2025 Marketplace Vendors (and more to come!)

Ancient Ways

Ancient Ways preserves indigenous life-giving traditions through collaborative sustainable practices, including health and well-being services and education, academics and the arts, as well as building huts, fuel-efficient smokeless stoves, toilets and wells. Ancient Ways is currently working in the US and Zimbabwe. We sell crafts from Zimbabwe as well as CDs, t-shirts, and African stones. Info: ancient-ways.org

Humwe

Humwe’s mission is to preserve the traditional music and culture of Zimbabwe and to improve the lives of those in the communities that we serve.
We will be selling a variety of African items, mainly from Zimbabwe. This will include instruments like mbira, hosho, dezes, jewelry, sadza cooking sticks, fabric, etc. Info: humwe.org

Kutsinhira Cultural Arts Center

Kutsinhira’s mission is: 1) Teaching and sharing the music of Zimbabwe by providing classes, workshops, performances and lectures; 2) Providing humanitarian relief to disadvantaged communities in Zimbabwe through the Zimbabwe Community Development Project; and 3) Providing music and cultural arts instruction to its local and extended community by hosting teachers from Zimbabwe through its artist-in-residence program. Kutsinhira will be selling t-shirts, hats, Zimbabwean artist CDs, Zimbabwean and African handcrafts, lightly used Zimbabwean and African clothing. Info: kutsinhira.org

Mambokadzi

Mambokadzi will be selling various arts and crafts from Zimbabwe and Tanzania. Info: tariro.org

Marimbaworks

Marimbaworks will be selling a complete line of marimba mallets designed for Zimbabwean-style marimba play, a large selection of hand-crafted hosho of various sizes and timbre. The durable, versatile and economical Mini Soprano available in all standard tunings and configurations for a two-octave practice instrument. Info: marimbaworks.com

Quilt for Humwe

African-themed raffle table, including African-themed quilt, djembe, etc. proceeds to benefit Humwe. Info: humwe.org

Sandals on My Feet

Sandals on My Feet will be selling a variety of baskets, clothes, hats, slippers, drums, bags, fabrics, fans, and more from Nigeria and Ghana. Info:

Zimfest Booth

For sale at the Zimfest Booth this year will be Zimfest 2025 tee shirts, tank tops and some custom-designed dashikis! A limited supply of posters will be on sale, along with previous years’ merchandise at reduced prices. 2025 Booth Coordinator is again Kyra Skaggs. Info:

Zimfest Virtual Marketplace

Can’t wait for the next festival?  Visit the Zimfest Virtual Marketplace page to shop year-round for instruments and other wares from Zimbabwean and related vendors.