A local market visit should be on your itinerary if you’re in a foreign country for a few days. This is a fantastic method to find unusual gifts or products that can be more reasonably priced than in your home nation.
There are numerous diverse markets throughout Africa, each with its own special items and experiences.
There is a market on the continent for you whether you’re seeking for handcrafted trinkets, local foods, or ethnic attire.
In this article, we will bring you the biggest markets in Africa. These markets will give you a sense of local culture and an opportunity to take in the vibrant stalls of Marrakech’s souks and the vibrant energy of Lagos’ Balogun market.
In Africa, Open-air and indoor markets are the two main varieties seen around cities. Open-air marketplaces, which are regular outdoor markets, are very important in many African communities.
As a bridge between producers and customers, these markets bring together independent sellers that sell new or used goods at wholesale or retail prices.
These merchants make up a major percentage of Africa’s informal economy. When next you visit the continent, you should check out these biggest markets in Africa.
- Khan el-Khalili (Cairo, Egypt)
- Marche HLM (Dakar, Senegal)
- Balogun Ajeniya Market (Lagos, Nigeria)
- Souks of Tripoli (Libya)
- Addis Mercato (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
- Maasai Market (Nairobi, Kenya)
- Makola market (Accra, Ghana)
- Jemaa el-Fna Square (Marrakesh, Morocco)
- St Balikuddembe or Owino market (Kampala, Uganda)
- The Rosebank Sunday Market (Johannesburg)
- Lome Grand Market or Grand Marche (Lome, Togo)
1. Khan el-Khalili (Cairo, Egypt)
Khan El Khalili is a huge market and one of the biggest markets in Africa that has been around since the Middle Ages.
It’s the oldest market in the Middle East for affordable Egyptian gifts and was named after its founder, Jerksy al Khalili, who was a famous merchant during the Mamluky period in 1400.
Many Egyptian artisans and workshops are involved in making traditional crafts and souvenirs sold at this market, which is why it’s so popular with tourists visiting Cairo.
On an average day, at least 3000 tourists visit this market to soak in the atmosphere and check out the wide range of products available, such as perfumes, essential oils, gold jewelry, carpets, local food, fabrics, and more.
2. Marche HLM (Dakar, Senegal)
Marché HLM is a bustling market in Dakar, Senegal that is known for its fabric and fashion-related accessories.
The market is a maze of stalls filled with vibrant and colourful fabrics that will catch your eye as soon as you walk in. If you’re looking for African prints, this is the best place to find them in Senegal.
Marché HLM is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike, with vendors offering a wide range of goods at affordable prices, this is why it is recognized as one of the biggest markets in Africa.
One can easily spend a few hours exploring the market, admiring the beautiful fabrics and picking out souvenirs to take back home.
It’s not just a shopping experience, the market also offers a chance to immerse yourself in Senegal’s vibrant culture.
3. Balogun Ajeniya Market (Lagos, Nigeria)
Balogun Ajeniya Market is a massive market situated on Lagos Island, Lagos State, Nigeria. It is known as Eko and it is not only one of the biggest markets in Africa, it is also known as the biggest in West Africa.
The market is popular for selling a wide variety of items including fabrics, souvenirs, hair and beauty products, kitchen wares and many other things. You can find affordable goods and a plethora of options to choose from.
Balogun market is a center for most of the large-sized imported goods from international markets, including China and other developed countries.
4. Souks of Tripoli (Libya)
The city of Tripoli, located in Libya, is known for its 9 marketplaces, called souks, which have been popular among tourists for years.
These souks were an important source of income for local vendors and artisans in the informal sector.
However, due to the ongoing civil war between the UN-backed government and the opposition government, the region has faced major political and humanitarian challenges.
This has led to the displacement of traders, a decline in tourism earnings, and reduced economic activities in Tripoli.
5. Addis Mercato (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
Mercato is an open-air market in Ethiopia that is very large, covering several square miles. It is a place where many people work and do business.
Most of the goods sold there are locally grown agricultural products, with coffee being the most famous one.
In the past, Ethiopia was colonized by Italy and the colonial government created policies that separated Ethiopians from the ruling class. The Addis Mercato, which is the present market, was founded as a result of these policies.
There are many things to buy at the market, from new and used clothes to souvenirs, herbs, spices, and of course, coffee.
The market is also a place where many informal traders do business. However, there is no available data on how much the market contributes to Ethiopia’s economy.
6. Maasai Market (Nairobi, Kenya)
The Maasai Market is an outdoor market located in Nairobi, Kenya. It is unique because it moves around to different locations in the city on different days of the week.
The market is open from 8 am to 6 pm each day it is open. The most popular location among locals is behind the Hilton hotel at the high court parking lot, where the market is held on Saturdays.
The Maasai Market is a celebration of the culture of the Maasai people. It is a great place to visit when in Kenya, where you can find a wide variety of locally made crafts, such as fabrics, beaded bowls, baskets, handmade African jewelry, paintings, drawings, and wood carvings made by local Kenyan artists.
7. Makola market (Accra, Ghana)
Makola market is a very busy and vibrant market in Accra, the capital of Ghana. It is the biggest open-air market in Ghana and was built in 1924.
This market is the primary place for buying and selling goods in Accra. The market is always crowded with people, vendors and their goods.
Products sold in the market are affordable, and tourists can buy traditional Ghanaian souvenirs for reasonable prices. The market is also an important source of employment for many market women in Ghana’s informal sector.
8. Jemaa el-Fna Square (Marrakesh, Morocco)
Jemaa el-Fna Square is a well-known market located in Morocco, situated at the center of the city with many shops and stores.
In the past, public executions used to take place here, hence the name Jemaa el-Fna, which means “assembly of the dead.”
The market currently connects the old and new sections of Marrakech and is a lively hub for trade, socializing, and cultural expression.
One of the special things about Jemaa el-Fna is the storytellers, who are a significant part of Moroccan tradition.
There are many items you can purchase at the market such as food, spices, carpets, lanterns, clothing, accessories, wood carvings, beauty products, herbs, and more.
9. St Balikuddembe or Owino market (Kampala, Uganda)
The Owino Market, also known as the St. Balikuddembe market, was founded in 1971 when vendors were relocated from Nakasero Market to the site by the Kampala City Council.
The market is named after an old man named Owino who was roasting maize and sweet potatoes when the vendors arrived.
Owino Market is a major source of wholesale agricultural products, second-hand clothes, food, and household goods. It is also one of the biggest private employers in Uganda.
10. The Rosebank Sunday Market (Johannesburg)
The Rosebank Sunday Market is a weekly market in Johannesburg where you can find African crafts, food, collectables, antiques and unique fashion items.
It has over 300 stalls and is a great place to spend your weekend shopping or just looking around. The market has live music, entertainment for kids and delicious food from gourmet food traders.
The market is located in the renovated Rosebank Mall and the open rooftop parking area transforms into a world-class marketplace on market days.
The rooftop market has over 600 stalls under one roof and has been voted as Joburg’s Premier Market for ten consecutive years.
The Rosebank Rooftop Market was created in 1993 to help organize and formalize the trade of local and international vendors who sell their goods there.
11. Lome Grand Market or Grand Marche (Lome, Togo)
Last on the list of biggest markets in Africa is The Grand Marche, also known as the Lome Grand Market.
This market is a huge marketplace located in the city of Lome, which is the capital of Togo.
It is located close to the city centre and Lome Cathedral. The market is very big and is divided into three sections: Atipoji, Asigame, and Assivito, covering an entire city block in Lome.
Also read: The world’s biggest voodoo market, Akodessewa Fetish Market, located in Togo
The market is famous for selling a wide range of products including food, spices, souvenirs, and more. Interestingly, most of the vendors in the market are women and children.
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