stores > markets

The most common way to shop for your everyday needs is at markets, not stores mostly because they sell anything and you can bargain. In Kumasi, I went to a Kejetia market which was an experience that I guess I can say I'm perfectly okay with never having again. Very similar to Madina market which is down the street from where I live but on super steroids. Unfortunately I only have 2 pictures documenting my experience because the first picture I took while in the market, atleast 8 people yelled.

 a view from the street 

Lesson 1 – Cameras are a no go.

So paint a picture of it yourself:

-Its the biggest market in all of West Africa

-People sell things in half fallen down tin huts, and of course out of giant buckets/crates/bowls/cages/coolers/fabrics/etc on their heads. Saw a lady carrying what seemed to me a twin sized mattress and box spring atop her head,(but this is Africa so who knows)

Lesson 2- “Agoooo” means get the hell out of the way.

-90% of the traders are women.

-Some of these women like to relax while at work. Visualize large ladies lying/some sleeping in tightly squeezed areas covering and covered in brightly colored and designed fabrics. It actually looked very comfy, out of the way of everyone else, shaded, cushiony, and still making money.

-You can buy anything, seriously. Clothes, jewelry, soap, dishes, animals (dead or alive), food, shoes, fufu pounders, etc.

-You have about 1 inch of personal space while walking.

Lesson 3 – watch you step, you might hit your head on someones bowl, or you might step in fresh cement (woops)

-Its loud, men walk around preaching in microphones in long African traditional jumpsuits, people yelling what they’re selling, crying babies.

Lesson 3 – White people cheer babies up.

-People like to acknowledge the white people, my favorite name being “vanilla”

-It has the wonderful combined aroma of meat, fish, leather, spices, shoemaking materials, etc.

Lesson 4 – Try not to get lost in the meat section, (fail)

-And its just about 100 degrees