I recently found myself at an open market that quickly became special to me. What made this market unique for me was the undeniable sense of familiarity. As I walked through the stalls, I was surrounded by items that constantly transported me back to Ghana. colourful fabrics and textiles, every stop in the market had that feeling of home. A little piece of Ghana I felt was set out for me in some else’s land.
As beautiful as the products were, what impressed me the most were the products set on display. I admired the many watches that seemed authentic, various colourful jewelleries, and beautiful beads, catching every source of brightness within a few rays of sunlight. The items appeared to be speaking for themselves and echoed many elements of richness and cultural pride that I so often see in Ghanaian markets. The detail and design of every item and the spirit that was poured into them was so compelling.
The open market had so many colours on display. Colourfull shades of red, yellow, green and gold lined many cotters with the colours blending in harmony to demonstrate an array of cultural expressions. The fabric hanging from the stalls swayed in the wind like a dance. The jewelery shone in a way that every passerby could see the sparkles and stops. From every shop there was something that slowed down every individual long enough to highlight each unique aspect of a piece just enough to admire it.
More than the items on display, what attracted me towards the market was the culture that surrounded it. The sounds of the market being its own character, the attractive smiles from shop owners, and the smell of handmade goods all offered some sense of ease to every person and welcomed the market experience. It is moments like this that help me remember why I consider connections and roots so important, no matter the geography.
As someone who loves capturing natural beauty and culturally rich environments, I felt it was necessary to also share these experiences with you. I felt joy to see pieces of culture that were familiar to me being accepted and cherished by an amazing group of people thousands of miles apart from Ghana.
To everyone on Hive, I hope this blog offers a glimpse of the experience and brings you joy as it offered me. Celebrating our cultures wherever we can is an important thing for us all to do with joy.
