AfriWare Books, Co

Gem of Maywood! We love coming here and always find a new book or accessory to pick-up! Perfect place to find a gift for the upcoming holiday season.

I am so happy that I stumbled upon this bookstore! The selection of books is so impressive, I love how thoughtfully curated the selection is. The blog posts are always interesting, the lists, the featured authors, the vibe of the shop really comes through even to the online browsing experience.
I needed to reach out to the staff with a question and I'm so glad that I did! The customer service was impeccable, they were patient, took their time, and handled every aspect of my order with care. Again, I could feel the heart of the shop through the interaction! This is truly a one-of-a-kind business, I only wish I would have found it while living in Chicago. I honestly can't wait to visit and check it out in person. I've spread the word to friends and family and they've also had great experiences. Afriware Books, thank you for all that you are doing! I've already placed a couple of orders and am excited to continue supporting.

Excellent product. Black book stores are highly neeeded for our communities. Knowledge is power!. Visit the website for exceptional offers.

Fantastic selection on African American and African history, biographies, children's literature, comic books with Black/Latino characters, selections of hair and skin care like shea butters, aprons, artwork by Black artists, teachers resources too.

The owner and staff of AfriWare Books are truly some of very best! They all really go out of their way to connect with customers in ways that I have never experienced with other bookstores. When I first ordered books from them and had a question about my order, the owner replied with such positivity and genuine desire to help with anything, remarking that she, too, could relate to the excitement and anticipation of the getting the latest Nnedi Okorafor book to read. In all my interactions with the owner and with the staff, I come away feeling that they really love what they do, and are genuinely excited to connect people with great books. I can't recommend buying from this bookstore enough- the excellent books and wonderful people make AfriWare Books one of the very best.

My family and I have always enjoyed going to the local store when we lived in Illinois for 11 years especially for books with our 5 children. Now that we have relocated we still enjoy purchasing online for all our reading, and unique buys for our home. My husband is from Maywood and remembers the current owners father and has always spoke so highly of the family and their business. We are going to continue our support and support black owned businesses.

This culture diamond is packed with books, gifts, skin care products, tee shirts, jewelry, and so much African pride. I browsed for an hour and still had just scratched the surface of all this business has to offer.

On top of a great bookstore, the owner is socially conscious and regularly schedules great guest speakers for educational enrichment of her customers. I have attended several events and always walked away with more knowledge than I had when I entered.

The owner has taken her business to a new level. Not only providing products but creating a space for gatherings that promote unity, community, and pride.

Thank you for all you do.

We went there July 2022 with a friend. Owner Nzingha took the time to talk to him about the African gear (from Ghana I believe?) for sale at the store, which was nice. We were told about free books we could take. Afterwards, all of us had a nice chat. I decided to buy hubby a book via their website and a turtle stickerbook for myself. Both arrived well on time. Nzingha contacted me about the order, which was very professional.
5 stars!

They did a fantastic job getting a hard-to-find book, and their price was fair. Even when there were a few hiccups out of their control, they still went above and beyond to provide excellent customer service and followed up with updates on my item and delivery status. I am grateful for all their effort and recommend supporting their business.

Our department has ordered from AfriWare Books several times and have never been disappointed. Their customer service is excellent. We'd highly recommend this business. Will be ordering from them again!

I really enjoyed it. There was a Kwanzaa celebration with drummers, spoke word, a singer and a speaker. This was a special occasion, so it doesn't happen every time.

On regular occasions, the staff is knowledgeable, courteous, and helpful. It has small sections for art, jewelry, t-shirts and beauty products I addition to the large selection of books.

This store and the service- AMAZING. I came across this store by accident after Amazon did not have a book I wanted. This store is a gem and I will continue to purchase books and accessories from here. The books arrived very quickly. The customer service (because I purchased two of the same books by accident) was not only a real person helping me but just so appreciative and helpful. I highly recommend purchasing books from this store.

Wow! My first visit to Afriware since the pandemic. While I enjoyed and appreciated the ‘shop & drop’ option offered by the owner, there’s nothing like being in the actual store. Shopping while surrounded by the aromas of incense, oils and the vibes of the music and conversation makes for a real experience. I found all items I was looking for and new exciting products. Really cool and community oriented that Afriware showcases and supports local vendors. I bought a handmade candle with Kemet artwork for my sister’s birthday. She loved it! Be sure to visit the store as Nzingha is adhering to all CDC COVID requirements. To ensure a safe shopping experience. Peace & Blessings.

Excellent customer service and books for the whole family.

Nzingha and the staff at Afriware Bookstore are an amazing resource for the global community, and my preferred supplier of books. They go the extra mile, build a connection between authors, artists and their audience with special events, book launches, signings and superlative service.

I ordered Resmaa Menakem's book "My Grandmother's hands" from Switzerland.
I received the book very quickly and perfectly packed. The tracking of my order was great. I'm very happy to have found this book at AfriWare Books and warmly recommend this bookstore (and Resmaa Menakem's book) !

Consistently great independent book store! I've shopped AfriWare since early in the pandemic, and they have always had excellent customer service, prompt shipping, and outstanding selection.

Had a shipping issue(post office lost it) which Was quickly resolved and I received the books in time for Christmas! Thanks Nzingha for everything! A great place to buy special books

The best African centered bookstore in the Chicago area. It's also a cultural center, & has speakers, authors, & products beyond books. Plus they're very nice.

Excellent customer service. There was some confusion regarding an order (my end not theirs), so I sent them an email. The issue was immediately resolved, and I couldn't be happier. Would highly recommend.