Wakuda Market is a free-to-enter Christmas market in Lewisham Shopping Centre, showcasing African and Caribbean brands offering food, gifts and crafts.
Back in 2020, Lewisham locals Nathaniel and Albert, had grown frustrated at the lack of authentic African and Caribbean products in mainstream retail.
Albert struggled to find a father’s day card featuring a Black father and Nathaniel couldn’t find a doll that looked like his daughter.
They both were aware of numerous Black-owned brands offering these types of products, but accessing them wasn’t always easy.
From here, the idea behind Wakuda formed: a market bringing exclusively Africana and Caribbean artisans straight to the public, all in a place with high foot-fall.
They are back in Lewisham Shopping Centre every weekend from Saturday 29 November to Sunday 22 December. They will also be staying two additional days on Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 December.
Nathaniel and Albert launched Wakuda as a brand in the wake of the Black Lives Matter Movement in 2020, when many people wanted to support Black businesses.
From art, fashion and jewellery, to skincare, haircare and even food, Wakunda’s selection of stalls makes for a Christmas shopping paradise. You can chat directly to the makers,
Nathaniel said: “Wakuda is about celebrating culture, supporting Black artisans, and making it easy for people to discover products that reflect culture and heritage.”
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Supporting small businesses has always been at the heart of the market, with independent sellers coming together to share their passion and produce. They have since grown to support over 500 businesses.
The feedback from vendors is overwhelmingly positive. Nathaniel said: “Our markets give small businesses visibility, footfall, and direct feedback from customers. We’ve seen businesses grow their audience, generate consistent sales, and gain confidence in expanding their brands.”
Albert looks back fondly on the vibe of the market during the Christmas season last year. He said: “It became a vibrant market, full of stories and products you won’t find anywhere else.”
Outside of the Christmas season, Wakunda runs pop-up markets throughout the year across South London.
They also have a website, where they list the items, describing them as “products you won’t find on the high street.”
Aside from the products, the pair say Wakuda is also about connection, not just commerce. They bring human interaction back to the shopping experience, with a range of personalised gift offerings on their website and information about each seller.
A lot of the brands on offer may not have an online presence for their brand, so Wakuda not only gives them exposure, but also takes marketing time off the hands of the busy sellers.
Nathaniel and Albert were born and raised in Lewisham, so saw it as the perfect place to host the Christmas markets.
Nathaniel said: “It’s such a diverse, creative community that reflects the people and businesses we’re supporting. It felt like the perfect home for Wakuda.”
Albert had a career as a digital marketer and he helped major e-commerce brands like Amazon and Deliveroo acquire new customers, so he is well positioned to maximise Wakuda’s business strategy.
Nathaniel’s background is in engineering and marketplaces, giving him the practical skills to open Wakuda. However, he also has a passion for learning and positive impact, which became the inspiration to co-found Wakuda.
“This year, I’m looking forward to seeing more talented artisans thrive and our community grow stronger.” Nathaniel told us. “It’s exciting to watch everything come together.
“We want everyone who visits to leave inspired and excited to support these amazing businesses.”
Looking ahead, the pair want to branch out their pop-up offering to more locations across South London, promoting access to and awareness of their partner brands.
They also plan to expand the product categories on their website, introducing more experiences and opportunities to connect artisans and customers.
Dates of the Christmas pop-up:
- Saturday, 29th November
- Sunday, 30th November
- Saturday, 6th December
- Sunday, 7th December
- Saturday, 13th December
- Sunday, 14th December
- Saturday, 20th December
- Sunday, 21st December
- Monday, 22nd December
- Tuesday, 23rd December
Lewisham Shopping Centre, Molesworth St, London SE13 7HB
