I have a vivid memory of hot air brushing over my cheeks, and heavy sweat moisturising the air around me.
I remember my small feet soaking into the hard earth, as I walked ever so fast, so as to not lose my mother in the mist of bodies surrounding me. This is my first memory of Makola market.
Growing up Makola Market was part of my household.
I remember my Grandmothers little tin shop, filled to the ceiling with goods.
I remember my aunties shop, filled with all these lovely colours of cosmetics.
I remember the smell of food, mixed with hard work, mixed with culture. I was surrounded by colours that excited me, pushed my imagination and my creativity beyond my small 7 year old mind.
What I remember the most is the hard work on the faces, in the voices and in the body movements of the people that lined up on the streets from dust till dawn just to make a couple of Cedis.
Every time I visit Ghana, I always find myself in the middle of this memory, fully clothed in my adult body but wrapped in the atmosphere that has been with me since my youth.
I always leave the market with a bag full of goodies, an empty purse, a happy heart and a hidden drive. It may not be much to many but to me it reminds me of what hard work should look like.
This is Makola Market, a renowned market place and shopping district in the centre of the city Accra, capital of Ghana.
This is no easy market to shop in but its definitely a fulfilling one. Hard work means busy bodies, which means no one is waiting for you to stand around, move with the pace, move fast and effectively.
The heat blazing from the sun on your back alone will give you the extra push you need. When visiting Ghana make sure to visit, it is a sweaty trip but its worth it.
