MyWeku

Makola Market – An African cultural icon.

First Part of our “Ghana Series” takes us to the Makola Market. To many visitors Africa’s markets or bazaars are the sum of their stalls, festive places and a drone of noise. They are also full of curious sights and provide a visitor with a snapshot of the heritage and culture of the people.

To the locals these are places where the overriding aim is to transform the overwhelming variety of foodstuffs into tempting dishes like Ghana’s staple

MyWeku had the pleasure of experiencing the sights and sounds of Ghana’s most famous and biggest market, the Makola Market. Here professionals and amateurs get stuck into haggling as they catch up on the latest gossip. The Makola Market which is primarily run by women traders is an historical institution for many in Ghana. The display of goods is somewhat chaotic but refined. Navigating through the open half of the market and the covered areas, it is possible to buy artfully cut African menswear, fuel efficient charcoal stoves and quirky cooking utensils.

Even though a significant and growing number of Ghanaian shoppers now patronise supersized malls and western style shopping centres in other areas of the city, the Makola market remains a cultural icon. It is the market where the bizarre meet the rugged, where ancient sits benignly next to modern and where the character of old Accra, its people and its surrounding areas like James Town can be experienced to its fullest.

See Also:

Ghana Series – Part 2

Ghana Series – Part 3

Ghana Series – Part 4