Street markets used to be known primarily as places to buy and sell life’s essentials, but I recently came across an article about a street market with a difference.
It’s called Soko Stingo (which means style market in Swahili), it’s a pop-up fashion market, and according to its financial director, Adebayo Oke-lawal, it is the first creative market that does not have the goal of selling.
The aim is to provide a place for designers and entrepreneurs to network, a platform that helps them get to the next level, and vehicle for improving fashion trade between the countries involved . “It's about building a relationship that brings people together all over Africa, from Botswana to Dakar", he said.
The concept was developed by five entrepreneurs (Adebayo Oke- Lawal of the brand Orange Culture, Bubu Ogisi of iamISOGO, Terence Sambo of One Nigerian Boy, Ifeanyi Dike and Makida Moka) as a creative business venture, and the first edition took place in Accra, Ghana, last October, attracting more than 300 designers, entrepreneurs and socialites. 
Brands on display that day included Zali, Sleek, Orange Culture, Wana Sambo, design for love (DSL), Diva Delicious and Cool Beans.
Because the emphasis is on things besides selling, prices are kept low – at least lower than you’d expect for one-off designer clothing and cosmetics. Same goes for the food on sale (designers and entrepreneurs have to eat, too). And though all prices are kept low, a percentage of profits go to African charities.
Wana Sambo
The success of the first edition was a vindication of the idea, so a second edition was held in December. And from now on the market will be held every 3 months, interchangeably in Accra, Lagos, Freetown and Abidjan.
For more information, you can reach one of the organisers at +2347037559787, +2348032113349, +2348120135422 or +233246553835
Email: sokostingoafrica@gmail.com
