A cluster of circular thatched huts on Burma Road, Kabwata Cultural Village is the best place in Lusaka to buy traditional crafts directly from the makers. Sculptors, painters, weavers, and woodcarvers work on-site, so you can watch pieces being made and talk to the artists rather than shopping from static displays.
The work here tends toward traditional forms — wooden masks, carved animals, woven baskets, batik fabrics — but quality varies widely and it's worth taking time to look carefully. Prices are negotiable, as they are everywhere in Lusaka. Come on a Saturday when the village is busiest and the selection is at its broadest. The Sunday craft market at the Arcades Shopping Centre is an alternative if you're based on that side of town.