洛美大市场(Grand Marché de Lomé)地处多哥首都的核心地带,紧邻圣心大教堂,是西非地区规模首屈一指的商品集散地。这里不仅是当地人解决生计的买卖场所,更是多哥社会地位与女性权力的独特缩影。
聊起洛美大市场,绕不开的话题就是娜娜奔驰(Nana Benz)。这群女性商人在上世纪七八十年代通过代理荷兰蜡染布(Vlisco)积累了惊人财富。她们鼎盛时期一度掌控了西非蜡染布近百分之四十的份额,因财力雄厚且钟爱驾驶奔驰轿车而得名。即便现在商业环境变了,这些女家族首领依然在市场中拥有极高的威望和话语权。
老主楼的历史可以追溯到一九六七年,那座巨大的混凝土建筑曾是洛美的地标。令人唏嘘的是二零一三年的一场大火几乎将其焚毁殆尽,但大市场的生命力并没有因此熄灭。摊位迅速向周边的阿达拉托(Adawlato)街区扩散,形成了一个以旧址为圆心、延伸数条街道的露天贸易网。现在去逛,看到的更多是错落有致的路边商铺和头顶托盘穿梭的流动商贩。
走进布料区,视觉冲击力极强。西非蜡染布(Pagne)在这里被成捆堆放,图案从几何图形到现代生活用品应有尽有。买布的时候不能只看花色,产地和克重很有讲究。荷兰产的品质最高,价格往往要几万西非法郎一匹,而国产或非洲其他国家产的平替货只要几千法郎。当地人习惯买下布料后直接找路边的裁缝量体裁衣,不少手艺好的师傅半天就能做出成衣。
穿过布匹区往里走,空气中渐渐混杂了干鱼、肉桂和香草的味道。这里有从邻国加纳和贝宁运来的各种调味料。除了生活必需品,偶尔能见到一些带有神秘色彩的草药摊位,摆放着干枯的动物躯体或特殊植物根茎。虽然更专业的巫术市场(Akodessewa)在郊区,但在大市场的角落里依然能窥见多哥传统宗教对日常生活的影响。
想体验最地道的早市,建议早上七点到九点之间抵达。这时候气温还没升起来,商贩们正忙着摆货,砍价的成功率也相对高一些。到了中午,市场里的拥挤程度和热浪会让体力迅速透支,不建议那时候在烈日下穿行。
在洛美大市场买东西基本只能刷现金,西非法郎是硬通货。为了安全起见,尽量别把手机和大额钞票露在外面,把包挂在胸前是最稳妥的做法。遇到想拍照的情况,务必先征得摊主同意。有些娜娜奔驰的后代对镜头非常敏感,直接拍摄可能会引起不必要的麻烦,这点很多人不知道。
大市场通常在清晨六点左右就开始活跃,一直持续到傍晚六点左右收摊。周一到周六是交易最繁忙的时段,周日大部分正规店铺会休息。建议周二或周五前往,这两天通常是进货日,货品种类最齐全。
这里属于开放式的市政贸易区,完全不需要购买门票。不过因为内部巷道错综复杂,如果第一次来怕迷路或者想了解背后的文化,可以雇佣一名当地向导,费用通常在三千到五千西非法郎之间,具体金额需要提前谈妥。
市场位于阿达拉托区,离海边大道非常近。最方便的交通方式是搭乘摩的(Zémidjan),这种黄色背心的摩托出租车在市内随处可见。从主城区大部分酒店出发只需花费五百到一千西非法郎即可到达市场入口。
Joy Q. Katoh Le Grand Marché is actually a very very big market, that, if you do not know where a particular vendor is, you might end up going in circles. However, I love love the natives of Lomé. En plus, the ability to hear and speak French very well endeared them to me, and made communication so easy. Most of them gave me mouthwatering discounts on hearing me speak their language. I can´t wait to go back there again. Lomé, my second home.
Ata-Ayite Hunlede Historical landmark of Lome, the capital city of Togo and commonly known as Asigame, it is a commercial hub of the city and the country easily accessible by various roads, located close to the Roman Catholic Cathedral, a cluster of banks and not far from the administrative centre with a mosaic of modern architecture, old colonial buildings and a variety of shops, stalls, supermarkets, restaurants, bars, night clubs, cinemas, hotels, guest houses, etc... You can find there all kind of goods in a hustle and bustle of a busy and colourful market place. There is the history, legend and legacy of the "Nana Benz" who dominated the commerce of Holland Wax Vlisco in the whole of West Africa. Please visit there when you are in Lome. It is such a lovely experience.
Jacqueline Johnson Quaye The heart of Lomé. Business, people, sight and sound all round! It’s a busy and fast paced spot where much of the sights to see are round. Products are affordable and the people are nice with their “Tata” calls for you to make a purchase. Oh there were the police around they blocked the roads and peoples stopped because a Minister was passing by. It was a funny experience but glad I saw it happen.
Prince Andrew Ardayfio It is a very big and crowded market. Yet very orderly. There are no cars allowed in the streets of the market so it is safe to walk. But just like any market, look sharp be wary of pickpockets and be assertive. Great place to find whatever you're looking for. I usually go there for fabrics
Mohammad Qutishat A cool place to hang out, it is one of the few places in Lomé to spend time, you can buy some souvenirs, or just enjoy browsing and meeting the locals if you speak French otherwise you will have a hard time finding someone to understand you, it is a safe place in a safe country, but it is not too clean.