A visit to a market in Africa is often a memorable trip for first-time comers to the continent. A variety of goods are sold in these open or closed markets and they can range from fish, rice, pots, basins to bicycle and car spare parts. Loud music will also be part of the background as vendors will compete to sell CDs or radio cassettes released by local or international musicians.
Fresh vegetables and fruit are a permanent fixture on the market landscape and are known to mesmerise many a customer with their vibrant colours and delicious smells.
Most of the times the sellers of these products are women and come from nearby villages or townships where they cultivate these crops with their bare hands. The prices are usually cheap for the items that are in season. Imported goods are more expensive than locally-grown ones for obvious transportation reasons.
After the purchase, some boys or girls will usually offer to carry the bags for a small fee as a means of daily survival. These are children that should be normally in school and not wasting their time plying such a low-paying trade.
Below are some of the goods you might see or buy if you happen to venture into an open or closed market in Africa.
Enjoy the sights and delight in the imaginary food smells!
Author: Olivia Gadabu Ngwira
Olivia Gadabu Ngwira is a multilingual trained print journalist who now works in Sales and Marketing. She was born in Blantyre, Malawi. She moved to Ndola, Zambia, with her family when she was 10. She made the return trip to Malawi eight years later and has been there ever since. She speaks fluent English, Chichewa and Chitumbuka and can understand Zambian Bemba and Nyanja. She loves writing, travelling and reading.