Market
Enugu has a number of supermarkets with large assortments of (mainly western) goods available. The more challenging attraction is to visit one of the local markets where there is not only a larger variety present at a more reasonable price, but it also provides you a taste of a typical market atmosphere. There are a number of large markets in Enugu city and most rural communities have their own market as well.
Ogbete or Main market is the largest and cheapest selling place where you can buy almost anything imaginable. Each market has its own layout with different areas dedicated to certain goods, such as groceries, clothes, electronics, books, vegetables and grains, etc. Anyone is more than happy to lead you to one of these areas.
Market Stall
If you are looking for something more specific you can have a look at the other markets, a few to mention: both Kenyatta and New market for building materials as well as bricklayers, carpenters, masons, painters, plumbers etc., Artisan market for livestock which can be slaughtered and plucked on the spot, and the Obolo market near Nsukka for its fresh fruit and vegetables.
Opening times of most of the town markets are from 08:30 to 17:30, six days a week. The markets in the village only open on one of the four market days (Eke, Orie, Afo and Nkwo) in the week. These market days follow in a 4-day repetitious cycle and are marked on most local calendars.
Occasionally, you might encounter night markets as well. The night markets, lightened by kerosene lights and wax candles, give it attractive night event.
One told me that one of these rural night markets is associated with spiritual elements. There is a believe that people can go to this market to get in contact with relatives who passed away in unexplained incidents. Here, through an intermediate oracle priest, the deceased may reveal the identities involved in his or her unexpected departure. And to prove this, the passed away relative predicts that something specific will happen soon, showing his family that the truth has been spoken...
Conversation: Where can I buy yam?
♬ Click here to listen to this conversation.| - Anyï na-eje na ahïa ka anyï golu ngwa ahia. | We are going to the market to buy some articles. |
| - Olee ebe m ga-egota ji? | Where can I buy yam? |
| Jee na ahïa Ogbete. | Go to the Ogbete Market. |
| - Olee ebe ö dï? | Where is it? |
| - Ö dï na etiti Enugu. | It is in the center of Enugu. |
| Na ahïa: | At the market: |
| - Bïa ebea onye ahïa. | Come here customer. |
| - Nne, olee maka ahïa tata? | Madam, how is today’s market? |
| - Ahïa tata dï mma/ Ahïa tata adïghï mma. | Today’s market is fine/Today’s business is not fine. |
| - Olee ihe ï chörö biko? | What do you want please? |
| - Achörö m ji. | I want yam. |
| - Ö dï ebea? | Is it here? |
| - E-e. | Yes. |
| - Ego ole ka i na-ele otu? | How much do you sell one? |
| - Weta naira ato. | Bring three naira. |
| - Ka m kwüa otu naira. | Let me pay one naira. |
| - Mba, kwüa naira abüö. | No, bring two naira. |
| - Ö dïghï mma. | It is not good. |
| - Aga m enweta ya önüa ebe özö. | I will get it at this price elsewhere. |
| - Weta ego. | Bring the money. |
| - Weta ha ise. | Give me five. |
| - Ö dï mma jide | That is good to hold on to. |
| - Ego ole ka ha ise bü? | What is the total cost for the five? |
| - Ö bü naira iri. | It is ten naira. |
| - Welü ego | Take the money |
| - Olee ihe özö ï chörö biko, lee anya öfüma. | What more do you want to buy, please, look well. |
| - Onwerozi, ka e mesïa. | Nothing more, good-bye. |
| - Chukwu gözie gï. | God bless you. |
Vocabulary
| ahïa | market | gota | buy, purchase (verb) |
| etiti | centre | onye ahïa | customer |
| tata | today | chörö | want, intend to (verb) |
| akwa | eggs | ökükü | chicken |
| akwa ökükü | chicken eggs | ite | pot |
| ügü | pumpkin | öbögwü | duck |
| tolotolo | turkey | ego | money |
| gota | buy (verb) | gbörödi | water leaves |
| alïbasa | onion | okporo | cray fish |
| ose | pepper | azïza | broom |
| mbala ji | water yam | ji | yam |
| azü | fish | öka | corn |
| akü oyibo | coconut | osisi | tree |
| ube | pear | nmanü-ökü | kerosine |
| ore ihe | seller | özü ahïa | buyer |
Grammar: Numerals
otu 1 abüö 2 atö 3 anö 4 ise 5 isii 6 asaa 7 asatö 8 itolu 9 iri 10 iri na otu 11 iri na atö 13 iri abüö 20 iri abüö na otu 21 iri atö 30 iri atö na otu 31 iri asatö 80 iri itolu 90 narï 100 narï abüö 200 puku 1,000 puku atö na iri abüö na iri 3,210 nde 1,000,000 ijeri 1,000,000,000 ökara half
Only otu and ökara precede the noun; the other numbers follow the noun:
| otu ülö | one house |
| ülö ise | five houses |
| otu naira | one naira |
| naira abüö | two naira |
| ökara naira | half a naira |
Note that the noun does not change if it is in plural.
The ordinal numbers are as follows:
| mbü | first |
| nke abüö | second |
| nke atö | third |
| nke anö | fourth |
Examples:
| ülö mbu | the first house |
| ülö nke abüö | the second house |
| abü m mbu | I am first |