Naija Market first of its kind in city

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This article was published 06/08/2024 (488 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Princess Park was transformed into an international market on Saturday, bringing together members of Brandon’s African community and offering a chance for other Brandonites to try a different kind of Saturday shopping experience.

The Naija Market Day was the first of its kind in Brandon and the second of its kind in the province, having only previously been hosted in Winnipeg earlier this year.

“People have been in Brandon, in Manitoba, in Canada and North America for so long — some people as far back as 30 years — and they haven’t gone back home,” said Abiodun Adetu, an organizer of the market. “Some of their kids have not even experienced Africa in any way.”

Adetu said the goal of the market was to recreate what an actual market in an African country would look like — complete with a variety of goods for sale, food and Afrobeat music. The market vendors are mostly from Nigeria, like Adetu, who moved to Winnipeg more than five years ago, but many other African countries were also represented.

While many people in Brandon might be familiar with a Saturday farmers’ market, Adetu said the Naija Market is a chance to provide the community with an opportunity to experience a different culture.

“We have our own market, and we want to depict our culture using the market,” she said, adding that having both vendors from Winnipeg and Brandon offers a sharing of goods that aren’t available in one location or the other. Many of the goods are imported from Africa, offering a chance for people to get items they might not otherwise be able to find locally.

The market kicked off with an opening prayer and a group photo of all the vendors. A bouncy castle kept kids entertained while vendors bustled around setting up their booths. Once what Adetu called “African time” approached (a few hours after the official start of the market), the park was filled with people mingling and listening to music.

“I think it’s such a great opportunity for everybody,” Emmy Sanderson, executive director of Brandon Downtown BIZ, who assisted the market with marketing and promotion, told the Sun.

“It’s a great opportunity for a gathering of a culture, it’s a great opportunity to everyone to experience that culture in a positive way,” she said.

“I think it just builds community, and that’s what our downtown is, a community. And an event like this is accessible to everyone … and it’s just a great showcase of one of our really strong groups in Brandon and in our downtown.”

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