A Place for Second-hand Clothes

The principal aspect in the Nkololun Market is the sale of second-hand clothes

Douala has so many markets in almost every neighbourhood there exist a market either constructed by the Douala City Council or by the population. Among the main markets in Douala is the Nkololun market. This market is a very old market constructed in the 90s.It is situated at nouvelle route kilometre 5. When the Douala central market was constructed, most of the traders who used to be at Nkololun moved to the constructed market. When it got saturated, those who did not have shops or spaced moved back to Nkololun market.
Talking to Foube Samuel, who is president of the Nkololun Market he said the government gave them authorisation around 1998 to construct the market. By this authorisation, he said the traders contributed money and they build some shops bring the market to the modern standard. Like any other market food stuffs are sold in Nkololun, cosmetics, but the principal is second-hand clothes which are sold. The president said many people come to Nkololun to buy second hand clothes in bulk to sell in other places. He said they do sell in bulk and also in retail. As for the prices he said they are sold at a cheaper rate. He went further to state that in the past there used to be a lot of delinquency, banditry in the market. People’s bags, chains, ear rings and watches used to be snatched in the market, but they formed a group, Amicale de sauverters et commerçants de Douala II (AMSACO) was put in place to fight these ills and to bring all the traders together. The association is a police to the traders. The group also checks payment of taxes by the traders, keeping the market clean.

EFFA TAMBENKONGHO