Things to see and do Brazzaville

A central and very accessible market where one hundred small stalls overlap with the honest choice of Congolese crafts: modern statuettes with ebony, almost bluish qui, beautifully patina, leather bags and statuettes, sandals, jewelry, masks… Some stands also offer fetishes, spears and jet axes, although difficult nowadays to report in a cabin baggage. Prices are to negotiate lazily under the hot sheet.

Opened in 2021, this gallery, located in the very south of the capital, promotes the works of visual artist Rhodes Makoumbou and her late father, David, once a renowned painter. Rhodes' oil canvases, often painted with knives, highlight the social activities of African women, as do the gigantic sculptures in the garden, representing the trades practiced by women. It is also a place for training the younger generation and hosting activities. A small bar adjoins the gallery for art lovers.

On the initiative of Leadership Congo, a local social and cultural association, this cultural center opened in January 2021. Since then, it has hosted a variety of performances, from theater to slam, from gospel to percussion, and from book presentations to photo exhibitions. The active Facebook page is well worth a look for information on upcoming shows. The cultural center also aims to be a space for sharing and artistic expression, with residencies for artists who can take part in training workshops and stay overnight.

Opened in 2018 in the grounds of Mikhael's Hotel, this private contemporary art gallery exhibits renowned Central African artists. The aim? To bring today's artists closer to art lovers and enthusiasts, potential customers. All vernissages take place in the presence of the painter, who also regularly comes to the hotel to prepare his canvases in front of interested customers. Exhibitions generally rotate on a monthly basis. Otherwise, the gallery hangs paintings from its own rich and varied collection. A colorful stopover.