When I lived in Nigeria, we called traffic jams “Go Slows,” which is a little easier than “embouteillage” or “mauvaise circulation,” as they call it here. Go Slows are frustrating, but they can be interesting and even entertaining here in West Africa. You can buy just about anything from your window as you work your way through traffic jams.
I’ve kept a list of things I’ve seen for sale in Go Slows since we arrived, both here in Bamako and in Abidjan. This list will fascinate you.
Here we go: fishing poles, luggage scales, chips, spices, every sort of dishes, digital thermometers, jump ropes, soap, hand bags, bullion cubes, tool kits, surgical gloves, hair clippers, lamps, inflated toys, construction measuring tapes, Scrabble and Monopoly, dried dates, basketballs, electric irons, screw drivers, waste baskets, umbrellas, dog leashes, ID badges, dried plantain chips, soccer balls, platters of all sizes, car mats, sandals,
newspapers, pillows, wipers, duffel bags, chocolate oat cereal, lunch boxes, jumper cables, thermoses, wash cloths, belts, sun block for cars, cell phones, sun glasses, knock off watches, plastic containers, hub caps, limes, coat racks, silverware, goblets, ironing boards, full length mirrors, stacking cooking pots, key rings, hair brushes, limes, peanuts, tummy tighteners, ladders, plastic shoes, satchels, cobweb sweepers, earth globes, pruners,
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rain jackets, face masks and shields, bathroom scales, hair clippers, toy boats, coloring books, dried mangoes, hand towels, maps, super hero toys, rolls of paper towels, choppers, hazard signs, peanuts in shells, rat poison, cigarettes, colored pencils, necklaces, an inflated Spiderman, plastic trash cans, card tables, salad spinners, headphones, timers, gum, boxed cookies, radios, roasted corn on the cob, boiled chunks of yam, homemade sesame seed crackers, hard boiled eggs, apples, shoe polish, Orange money cards,
end tables, steering wheel covers, shoe polish and brushes, TV trays, incense burners, coat hangers, a glass statue of a dancer, puzzles, cotton buds, boxer shorts, remote controls, tea cups, children’s life vests, phone chargers for the car, bike tires, car registration wallets, watercoloring sets, a 2001 diary, dust pans, visors, styrofoam airplane gliders, toothbrushes, knives and machetes, men’s hats, bath towels, fabric, water pouches,
dinner rolls, carpets, air freshener for cars, extension cords, electric mosquito zappers, brief cases, all sorts of containers, serving trays, books, Muslim caps, manual orange juicers, homemade picture frames, speakers, athletic bandages, desk lamps, paint brushes, pink cotton candy, inflatable life jackets, seat covers, magnifying glasses, tea pots, electric razors and clippers, mobile phone screen magnifiers, hand pump water filter bottles,
ankle wraps, inflatable twin mattresses, bags of popcorn, ladders, shoes, sponges, office paper trays, electric gas lighters, checker boards, children’s clothing, chunks of boiled yams, fire extinguishers, inflatable swimming pools, microphones, hand vacuums, prayer rugs, caged parrots, welcome mats, mosquito nets, strainers, air fresheners, sifters, satchels, apples, tin can pots, lantern lights, axes, serving spoons, cold cereal, sling shots, door mats, cleaning brushes, SIM cards, radios, roasted corn, tissue boxes, cobweb sweepers, homemade fried croquettes and other treats.
The list is as varied as the people who sell in the streets here. They are old and young, men and women, girls and boys. They come right to your window, hoping to make eye contact and hoping your window will be down. These sellers dodge between and in and out of traffic, walking up and down the roads and intersections, probably many miles every day without going far. There is hope in their eyes, always hope for a sale.
Our Cote d’Ivoire Abidjan East and Bamako, Mali Mission 