Kumasi Market

As a first time visitor to an African Market, I was fully delighted by the color, movement, and beauty I found in the largest market in West Africa. I am ashamed to say that too much of my attention was directed just in front of me because the walking was very similar to the driving: fast with constant movement and governed by rules I am just beginning to grasp. Thus I was focused as much on not losing my fellow travellers and not being the "bruni"( Ghanian for white person) to somehow knock down a towering pile of fruit. Despite my need to keep eyes front for a lot of the time, the market was all encompassing. People were welcoming, knowledgable and more than happy to help us with anything we needed.

Long narrow corridors run up and down the market and tin roofs create an almost indoor feeling in some areas. Other sections in the market are wide open under the hot sun and everywhere we walked were women carrying enormous loads on their heads. Calling out their wares to sell, these women often carry children on their backs and stop to sell water, fruit, meat, candy, barrettes, fabric, fishing nets, spoons, or anything else imaginable that a person might want to buy. Adults and children alike prepare coconuts for people to drink the milk out of. These are prepared with a long machete. Music blares. Pots and pounded and bells are rung all in the hope a shopper at the market will indulge.

We were able to purchase so many items to demonstrate how people live in Ghana today: the grater they use in the kitchen, the calabash bowls used by many families, a lamp made from recycled tin, a bag made from recycled tires. Ghana is far ahead of the United States when it comes to creative, widespread, personal recycling. Most clothing being sold is either used Western style ( Western meaning western world not cowboy western) clothing or beautifully patterned and dyed fabrics in such dizzying array it leaves the senses a bit overwhelmed. These fabrics are everywhere and make our understated fashion at home seem drab and a bit sad.