African Food, Churches and Community in Vilnius and Kaunas

Last checked: November 2026

This guide to the African community in Lithuania covers the shops, food, hair services, English-language churches and community groups we could confirm in Vilnius and Kaunas in late 2026. Businesses open, move and close, so treat every address and opening time as a starting point and check before you travel across town.

How big is the African community in Lithuania?

Small. The Migration Department’s 2025 yearbook counts about 217,000 foreign residents in Lithuania at the end of 2025. Most come from Ukraine, Belarus and Central Asia. People from African countries are a small slice of that total.

Source: Migration Department of Lithuania, yearbook 2025 (Table 1.2). Most of the African community in Lithuania lives in Vilnius and Kaunas, and many are students.

So the African community in Lithuania is a few thousand people spread across several cities, not a neighbourhood with its own high street. That shapes everything below: there are a handful of shops rather than dozens, and much of community life happens in WhatsApp groups, church halls and friends’ kitchens.

African food shops in Vilnius

OBA African Store

The best-known shop serving the African community in Lithuania is OBA African Store in Vilnius, founded by a Ghanaian woman who first came to Lithuania as an Erasmus student. LRT, the national broadcaster, interviewed her in December 2024 about running the shop and the mix of curiosity and racism she meets.

Its website lists a physical shop at Žemynos g. 18, inside Galaktika shopping centre, Vilnius. The online catalogue covers plantain and yam, rice, gari, beans and egusi, palm oil, spices and seasoning cubes, frozen and canned goods, drinks, and hair and beauty products including extensions.

It also delivers. At the time of writing the site advertised free shipping across Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on orders over €40, delivery in 2–4 working days, and same-day delivery in Vilnius for orders from €100 placed before 17:00. That makes it the most practical option if you live in Kaunas, Klaipėda or a smaller town.

Afroman Shop Kaunas 

This Kaunas-based shop, Afroman Shop, runs a physical store at Savanorių pr. 14 and has an online store with a product catalogue as well. We could not open the full site to confirm its delivery terms or whether it has a walk-in shop, so check the site or message them before you plan a trip.

Their hours show they are open Monday through Saturday from 11:00 to 19:00. However, they are closed on Sundays. Always double-check the hours in case of changes. 

Supermarkets, markets and Asian grocers

You will not find egusi at Maxima, but you can fill gaps. Big supermarkets stock rice, sweet potatoes, ginger, chillies and frozen fish. Asian and Indian grocers in both cities are worth a look for things like cassava flour, rice flour, coconut milk and spices, though stock changes week to week. Open-air markets such as Kalvarijų market in Vilnius are good for cheaper vegetables and meat cuts, especially if you shop early.

African restaurants and takeaway

Sit-down restaurants for the African community in Lithuania are rare. The clearest current option we know of is a small place at Kalvarijų g. 88, Vilnius. Opening hours are unconfirmed, but if you happen to go to the other markets at that address, you’ll likely be able to find out about that there. 

In Kaunas, there isn’t a dedicated West, East or Southern African restaurant with a current listing that we could find. Most people we know cook at home and order ingredients from Vilnius. Honestly, this is one of the downsides of a small community: if you want jollof on a Friday night, you will probably be making it.

Afro hair and beauty

Finding someone who can braid, twist or retouch afro-textured hair is a real worry for new arrivals, especially women. In Vilnius, Afro Glow Studio is available at Kalvarijų g. 88. Its listing includes cornrows, box braids, boho braids, French curls, stitch braids, faux locs, afro styling and straightening, plus nails and make-up. Also included is wig installs, revamps and so fort.  Listed hours at the time of writing were Mon–Fri 09:00–21:00, Saturday 09:00–19:00 and Sunday 10:00-17:00. What’s top about the salon is that men can also get their hair cut here and those with locks can get retouched, while those that braid can get it done there too. Kids are also welcome, which is great for families. You can make a whole day out of it!

Beyond salons, a lot of braiding in the African community in Lithuania happens at home, booked by word of mouth in WhatsApp and Facebook groups. Ask at church or in your university’s international student groups. For products, OBA stocks hair extensions and cosmetics, and many people order specialist items from EU-wide online shops. Tiktok is also a great place to find some sellers.

A practical tip from our own move: bring a three to six month supply of your usual hair products, edge control and any medicated creams in your luggage. Our packing list for Lithuania has more on what is worth the suitcase space.

English-language churches in Vilnius and Kaunas

For many people in the African community in Lithuania, church is where friendships start. Lithuania is mainly Catholic, and most services are in Lithuanian, but there are several English-speaking options.

Vilnius

• • International Church of Vilnius: an English-speaking congregation that meets at the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Vokiečių g. 20, in the Old Town. Listings give the Sunday service as 9:30 and mention a monthly Friday social for students and young adults. Website: vilniuschurch.com
  • Bernardine parish (Catholic): the Franciscan parish at Maironio g. 10, next to St Anne’s, describes itself as an international English-speaking Catholic community, with Mass in English on Sundays at 9:00.
  • Life Church (Gyvenimo bažnyčia): a charismatic church at Kalvarijų g. 85 holding its Sunday service in English at 13:00, with Lithuanian translation headsets and a livestream. It also lists weekday prayer and Bible study. Website: gyvenimobaznycia.lt

Kaunas

• • International Reformed Church of Kaunas: formed in 2022 to serve internationals in Kaunas, part of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania. Sunday worship at 17:00, E. Ožeškienės g. 41.
  • English Mass for students: Vytautas Magnus University’s chaplaincy lists Holy Mass in English on Sundays at 18:30 at St Francis Xavier (Jesuit) Church, Rotušės a. 8, in the Old Town.

Pentecostal churches founded in Nigeria also have a presence. There is a Facebook page for Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) parishes in Lithuania, including one in Klaipėda, but you would have to confirm current service times or addresses in Vilnius or Kaunas. Ask in community groups for the latest details, as small fellowships often meet in rented rooms that change.

Mosques and Muslim prayer

Lithuania has a centuries-old Tatar Muslim community, and newer arrivals have grown it a lot. According to LRT in April 2026, Vilnius has no mosque, only prayer houses and prayer rooms, including two Islamic centres that are crowded at Friday prayers. Kaunas has a functioning mosque, one of four in the country. Muslims in the African community in Lithuania should ask their university or local Islamic centre for current prayer locations and Jumu’ah times.

Finding your people: groups and associations

There isn’t a formally registered, active pan-African association with a current website in Vilnius or Kaunas. That does not mean the African community in Lithuania is absent. Most of it simply runs informally, through:

• • National WhatsApp and Facebook groups (for example Nigerians, Cameroonians or Zimbabweans in Lithuania). Search Facebook, then ask an admin to add you. Be careful: these groups also attract fake job and visa “agents”. Our guide to spotting scammers is worth a read.
  • University international student groups and Erasmus Student Network sections, which run welcome events, trips and cultural nights.
  • International House Vilnius, a free city information centre for foreigners. Its communities page lists groups such as Foreigners in Vilnius, the International Women’s Association of Vilnius and the Caritas House of Cultures, which offers integration help and counselling for migrants.
  • Church fellowships, which often double as practical support networks for housing tips, job leads and childcare.

Once you know a few people, the African community in Lithuania can feel surprisingly close. Birthdays, graduations and Independence Day parties tend to pull in people from several countries at once, simply because there are not enough of any one nationality to go it alone.

Practical tips for eating and shopping like home

• • Bulk-buy with friends. Delivery thresholds are easier to reach when three flatmates order together, and Kaunas residents save a trip.
  • Bring spices, not perishables. Pepper soup spice, dried crayfish and seasoning blends travel well. Meat and milk products from outside the EU are banned in personal luggage, while fish has a limit of 20 kg. The European Commission’s personal imports page explains the rules.
  • Use student travel discounts. Full-time students with a residence permit reportedly get 50% off domestic trains and intercity buses, which makes a Vilnius shopping trip from Kaunas much cheaper. The train between the two cities takes about an hour to an hour and a quarter.
  • Budget for it. Imported African groceries cost more than in Lagos, Accra or Douala. Our living expenses guide helps you plan a realistic food budget.

Honest notes on being part of a small community

Being part of a small African community in Lithuania has upsides. People notice when you are new, and someone usually helps with your first shopping experience or flat search. You also end up with friends from all over Africa and the world, not only from home.

The downsides are real too. There may be weeks when you do not see another Black person outside your campus. Some Lithuanians will stare out of curiosity, and some people meet open racism, as several LRT interviews with Africans living here describe. Choice is limited: if the one braider you like moves away, you start again.

Our advice is to build a mixed circle. Join one African or faith group, one university or hobby group, and try to learn some Lithuanian. Our article on settling in after arrival covers the first weeks step by step.

FOUNDER NOTE: When I was still living in Kaunas, I was overjoyed when I found Afroman Shop because I could get some afro hair products and finally give my hair a much-deserved break, and I also didn’t need to wait weeks on end for my Aliexpress braids order. 

Frequently asked questions

Is there an African community in Lithuania?

Yes, the African community in Lithuania exists, but it is small. Official figures show several hundred residents each from countries such as Nigeria, Cameroon and Zimbabwe, mostly in Vilnius and Kaunas. Much of the community connects through churches, WhatsApp groups and universities.

Where can I buy African food in Vilnius?

OBA African Store has a shop in Galaktika shopping centre (Žemynos g. 18) and an online shop with delivery across the Baltics. Afroman Shop in Kaunas does the same. Check current stock and opening hours before you go.

Are there English-speaking churches in Lithuania?

Yes. In Vilnius, the International Church of Vilnius, the Bernardine Catholic parish and Life Church hold services in English. In Kaunas, the International Reformed Church and an English Mass at St Francis Xavier Church serve internationals.

Can I get my hair braided in Lithuania?

Yes. Afro Glow Studi in Vilnius offers braids and faux locs, and many stylists in the community work from home. Ask in national Facebook or WhatsApp groups for recommendations.

Is Kaunas or Vilnius better for African students?

Vilnius has more African shops, food and churches. Kaunas is smaller and cheaper, with an active international student scene, and you can order any African groceries for delivery or reach Vilnius by train in about an hour if you can’t find what you need in Kaunas.

If you are planning a move and want to talk through which city suits you, from universities to housing to community life, we are happy to help. Book a free consultation with us and we will share what we wish we had known when we arrived.