Inside an African Market

April 28th, 2006

I always enjoyed going to the African market. Usually I walked alongside my African friend, carrying a basket on my head. It was an outdoor market. Everywhere was produce, on wooden stands here and there or on colorful lapas laid out on the ground. Women gabbed to one another as they waited for buyers; children raced around the stands; men in caps and gowns loudly advertised their snake skin slippers; dogs snoozed in the dirt. I had so much fun wandering through the marketplace, checking everything out and bartering for all my groceries. I mostly enjoyed bending down to buy fruit and vegetables, just so I could lift them up into the basket on my head! Actually, it was the attention I liked best! At first everyone seemed to stare curiously at me; but then they would break out with cheers as they applauded for me: a white woman balancing a food-filled basket on her head, unbelievable!