NAIJA GOOD: OKRIKA/BEND DOWN SELECT
Isn’t it amazing how you can get some world designer clothes in the OKRIKA markets here in Nigeria?
First, let’s share with you what the word ‘Okrika’ stands for.
OKRIKA is a small port town in Rivers State Nigeria. During the 1950s/1960s, foreigners especially the Europeans would send their fairly used clothes and other wears to Nigeria and they would always arrive at OKRIKA.
People would go down to the Okrika market to buy these wears and eventually the clothes have been eponymously named after the city, “OKRIKA”.
The Okrika market has improved so much to the extent that it’s now all over the country; you can now find an Okrika in any market close to you.
Okrika markets are usually crowded but fun especially when it’s a market day.
Traders would arrange the wears beautifully under an umbrella, yelling out their prices and beckoning on anyone that passes, trying to persuade them to patronize them by calling out “Fine girl”, “Fine boy this shoe go fit you o!”.
Some of these traders would even go as far as composing songs that might attract your attention.
It’s always a sight to behold.
An Okrika market is a Lucky-Pick Market.
BEND DOWN SELECT is a pidgin term which defines how people bend down to pick clothes in these markets.
Some of these clothes are not at all used: most of them are evacuated from shops abroad during clearance, these are the AA Labels or Grade 1, then AB, Grade 2 are those that are not so classy. They come in bales; some boutique shop owners even buy these durable second hand wears and display them in their shops.
The Okrika market is mostly patronised by the average income earners and youths but some of the Okrika traders claim that many big men and ladies park their cars to come and buy these wears. Everyone would try their luck in lucky picking to get a lucky cloth: as it is Pocket Friendly; let the search for quantity-quality selections begin. It’s also like a Dress-Up market most times.
OKRIKA aren’t just clothes but also shoes, bags and even appliances.
Other names for these second hand products are: OK (Which is short for OKRIKA), AKUBE, BELGIUM, TOKUNBO.
The biggest Okrika market in Nigeria is in Lagos, KATANGUA market.
~YOU CAN MAKE YOUR POCKET FRIENDLY/LUCKY PICK LOOK LIKE A MILLION DOLLAR.
[Wash before you wear]
NAIJA GOOD.
With Okrika, you don’t have to cut your arm in order to appear classy.
There are good clothes of great quality and in good shape that one can get at the Okrika markets.
Someday, one may be able to afford designer clothes straight from their stores.
But until then, it is good to buy Okrika according to your budget.