NANA AYENSUA AMONOO

Ghanaian markets often appear colourful, bustling, busy, noisy and chaotic. Amid the supposed chaos, it is easy to miss the individual stories of people who converge here daily, with the sole aim of making a living.
In the illustration above, we see 'the kayayei'.
A Kayayei/Kayayo/Kaya is basic...

Ghanaian markets often appear colourful, bustling, busy, noisy and chaotic. Amid the supposed chaos, it is easy to miss the individual stories of people who converge here daily, with the sole aim of making a living.
In the illustration above, we see 'the kayayei'.
A Kayayei/Kayayo/Kaya is basically a human porter. They are usually teen girls and young women from rural areas who migrate to the big cities with hopes of getting jobs and soon find that being a ‘kaya’ is the fastest way to support themselves.
When in the market, they will bear your newest purchases on their heads, follow you around till your shopping is complete and you are ready to be transported home. For the prime services they provide, their realities are a lot harsher than the smiles they wear while doing their jobs. Evidently, the child on the back of the woman in this picture is a gentle reminder of this.