About Makola market

Accra’s largest open-air market which overflows with goods, people, scents and sounds, hustle and bustle. It is the best place to absorb the atmosphere of a West African market.

This market is similar with Balogun market in Lagos, Nigeria and a bit similar to markets in Kampala where you really can get whatever you want. It is in the centre of the city so has heavy traffic most of the time and car park is mostly full between 10 am and 5pm.

It is quite an amazing place with lots of very narrow alleyways and women walking about with huge bowls and other packages on their heads. Good place to shop for most things but very crowded most times. Get almost everything you need for your home at reasonable rate.

Come with a guide to show you the more interesting parts of the market and find some cool vantage spots for excellent photo opportunities. Plan to spend the day, there is plenty to see.

History of Makola market

The name Makola, ”makɔla” to wit, “I will pick fire“ came about as a result locals who had to identify their mission of ‘picking fire’ from immigrant Hausa’s who had been selling cow meat popularly called “chichinga” (kebab) at Cow Lane. The locals were said to be in the habit of picking fire (lighted charcoal or wood) for their home cooking from these traders and in order to clearly define their mission which was not to buy meat, the always approached the venders saying ”makɔla” (I am here to pick fire).

These migrant traders had brought cows (cattle) to trade in Ga Mashie and surrounding communities. They settled at the place now known as Cow Lane and were often seen driving their herd through the narrow lanes of the area. Whenever they slaughtered the cattle, they carcass were sold either raw and roasted on fire as khebab (Chinchinga).These trader often sold their khebab late into the night and often had the embers of their charcoal fire still hot in the mornings.

The gradual transition into the use of coal pots saw a lot of the Ga women depend on fire from the pots and stoves of these kebab vendors who almost always has fire in the evening up until morning when the women mostly cooked. They would his either send their children or personally go to pick pieces of the charcoal fire in laddles (ato) to kindle the fire in their kitchens. Eventually, the sprawling kebab market area where the women picked the charcoal fire came to be known as makɔla.

The carried their pieces of fire sometimes over long distances sometimes as far as Aayalolo and Adedenkpo.

Map

Nearby attraction

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

Kwame Nkrumah Museum

Center for National Culture (Accra Arts centre)

Independence Square

Nearby accommodation

Movenpick Ambassador Hotel

Accra City Hotel

Grand View Hotel