By Fatoumata Konteh
Apart from the immemorial traditional markets in The Gambia especially in the cities, there are now trending markets known as night markets that you can find around the Greater Banjul Area and Brikama in West Coast Region.
These night markets are not particularly selling foodstuffs or cooking ingredients like the daylight traditional markets you know but going around shopping or doing window shopping at night will open your mind and eyes to some of these markets that are now becoming more popular like other night market in the regional countries like Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Liberia, Guinea, and others.
At these night markets, though different from the generic market, you will be accessible to consumable food sold around the market vicinity. In some areas, you will find a round-the-clock grocery shop, and apart from open shops that close late, there are other vendors in open places that you can do your shopping or visit to have funs alone, with family or friends.
Talking of these night markets they are available at West Field, Serrekunda Market, Latrikunda Market, Bambo and Saffidine, Tipper Garage, Brusubi Turntable Junction, Coastal Road Market, Brikama Market, and many other recognized places.
Bambo and Saffiden
Bambo and Saffidine Night Market takes place along the West Field Tippa Garage road, you can have all quality bags, shoes, and other secondhand materials at a reasonable price when you visit this place. This market starts between 6 and 7 pm onwards.
Many people visit these vendors selling at this evening/night market to look for some quality and affordable footwear and clothes. Some also prefer to buy secondhand electronics there such as TV sets, irons, electric kettles, and some other items. Also, some come to do late-night shopping from the available mini-supermarkets there.
Among the night market vendors that spoke with this medium at this market said “We are always available for students and any other customers,” and with pride they will advertise to you that “We have grade A clean secondhand stuff, all available at a cheaper price,” Mommodou Jallow, a shoe seller who volunteer told this reporter.
Serrekunda Market
Serrekunda Market is the biggest market in KanifingMunicipality where they sell different types of food items, clothes, shoes, and a lot more. The evening market starts at 7 pm across all the spots in the market vicinity. Immediately after the main market is closed many vendors will come out with their goods to sell. Vendors from the Serrekunda market will all start roaming the market with their items such as telephones accessories and other handy electronics hunting for customers to patronize them. Different freshly prepared foods such as rice, afra, porridge, cous, and so on are always available for people to buy eat, and takeaway. If you are looking for secondhand clothing before saying Jack Robinson you will find a unit of the cloth vendors surrounding you,
However, at this market which is always overcrowded, if you are attending for the first time you are advised to take good care of your items to avoid them been snatch or losing them to hoodlums that would pretend to be sellers or buyers.
Nevertheless, other items you can find at the Serrekunda night market include craft items for tourists visiting at night, beads and other materials for body beautification, shoes, wheelbarrow pushers selling groceries, and night auctioning of ‘fukojaye’ items.
Speaking to Baye Njie at this market, he said he is a secondhand clothes retailer. He confirmed that the market is always good for selling at night because, normally, many people don’t have time during daylight, and, amazingly, what he normally sells at night is better than what he sells in daylight.
Sulayman Sarr, a shoe vendor lamented the advantages of the night market but also confirmed that there are many risks attached to selling at night, too, especially at Serrekunda.
But “We are here for you, I always arrive in the market at 6 pm and I have a good bond with my client. My business is based on negotiation so I serve my customers to their satisfaction,” he appraised himself.
Sarr urged night market lovers to be very mindful of their stuff and money and also to be careful with the drivers for safety purposes.
Latrikunda Market and NTC Market Lamin
In places like Latrikunda and Lamin NTC, it is a different activity entirely because apart from selling other items, these two places are where you can get fresh and raw seafood at night, especially fish, shrimp, crabs, etc.
If you are the type that needs fresh seafood and you cannot visit the fish stations at daylight because of your schedule, visit any of these places as from 5 pm till late hours you will have a bag full of your choice seafood to prepare nice dishes for the family.
West Field
West Field is another night market center vendors in this place specialize in selling shoes displayed on the floor for their customers to see, bend down, and select their choice.
It started a few years back but now become part of West Field where people especially workers that close late can drop by and buy their needed footwear. Also, at West Field, vendors are sitting by their groceries carefully displayed on canters waiting for their customers.
