Pula

I’ve no idea how this place survives, but I’m glad it does. I’ve never seen anyone buying anything in here, but it’s certainly great to browse around. It specialises in African art and crafts, ranging from the traditional to the contemporary, so suiting a big range of tastes. My mum usually hates this sort of thing, but she liked the ceramic beads and jewellery, whereas I’m more attracted by the paintings.
The pictures and photographs are definitely the main feature. Most of them cost well over £100, but are original and the African ones are full of vibrant colour, whilst it’s refreshing to see local art that has moved beyond rehashed watercolours of Oxford colleges.
There are masks, carvings, baskets, games and all manner of unusual things to get guests talking the next time they’re in your house. Personally I’ve got my eye on the emu egg, although I have no idea what I’d do with it!

A lively shop with a huge range of gift items and unusual goods sourced mostly from Africa. A welcome change from the homogeneity that has become the rest of Oxford.

If you want to feel good about your shopping visit Pula. The owners work with the people who make the beads, pots, paintings, beadwork, toys, mobiles (the sort you hang up to amuse babies — not phones), bags etc to ensure the workers get a fair wage. The things they sell are beautiful and original and not usually stocked elsewhere. the stock also changes pretty quickly so it is worth looking in to see what is new.
There are lots of lovely crafts for sale plus a selection of African music CDs, clothes and the ubiquitous fair trade food.