Exploring Oka African Rural Market, Benin Nigeria. Village Market

Added: 2026-05-19

[00:00:00][music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Hello guys. You are welcome to Oka Market here in Upper Sakponba in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Today we want to explore, being the first time being here, talk to sellers, know what is trending, know how they are selling. So guys, follow me. Thank you. Okay guys, I'm currently at Oka Market. Yeah, this road is Upper Sakponba.

[00:00:54]When you hear Upper Upper Upper, this is the road.

[00:00:57]And Oka Market is actually in Oka Market. Yeah, Upper Sakponba. Hope I'm pronouncing it well. So right now we're going to tour. We're going to tour around. It's a It's a large market, but not extremely large. Yeah.

[00:01:12]So they have basically food stuff. And they have market days. One of the interesting thing about this market is that they have market days.

[00:01:20]Right here. But today is not their market day, unfortunately.

[00:01:24]But we're still going to tour. Yeah, we're still going to tour. Hopefully we'll talk to sellers.

[00:01:30]Yeah, so I'm actually entering inside the market.

[00:01:35]Mhm.

[00:01:37]You're going to see lots of shops, lots of table, then umbrellas, you know, people calling you, "Come and buy. Come and buy. Come and buy." Yeah. So this is like in The market is beside me. Do you see the road here?

[00:01:52]Do you understand? But inside here, so you're going to see a lot of shades. And basically what they sell is um um Okay, let me go back outside.

[00:02:03]Basically what they sell is normal normal normal stuff.

[00:02:08]So, normal stuff. Can you see?

[00:02:10]Uh-huh.

[00:02:11]But, when you are looking at things here, this market is cheap. Compared to that of Oba, yeah, it will be cheap. But, I've not spoken to any seller but should be like I've heard a lot about this market.

[00:02:26]Well, I don't know the price.

[00:02:30]Okay, yeah.

[00:02:31]They always call you that. Come and buy a sister. Come and buy a sister.

[00:02:35]So, guys, let's go. Let's go. I hope to talk to somebody. I've heard a lot about Opa.

[00:02:41]They say Opa Opa Opa Opa people. A lot.

[00:02:45]Some of these things that I heard are scary. I'm telling you they will tell you, "Don't come to Opa. Don't come to Opa, oh.

[00:02:50]OPA BOYS ARE BAD, OH.

[00:02:52]The industry is rough, oh."

[00:02:54]They can collect your phone, oh.

[00:02:56]Don't go and look content. There are a lot I must get a very plenty yam shade. They have dry dry yams. This kind of yam is very dry, very dry. Let me show you this one.

[00:03:08]Can you guys see?

[00:03:09]These are dry yams. And they are usually very white. When you eat like two slices like this, you are okay. So, according to her now, she said this one is 3,000 naira, which I'm really surprised. One.

[00:03:20]2,000.

[00:03:22]Okay, this 2,000 naira, oh. So, this one is 2,000 naira for one.

[00:03:26]Can you guys see?

[00:03:28]Yeah, it depends on the size.

[00:03:30]You can see the one for 1,500, the one for 2,500, the one for 3,000 naira.

[00:03:35]Yeah, they are going to see.

[00:03:37]So, can you guys yeah, I think I like the packaging right now.

[00:03:41]Yeah. So, guys, let's go.

[00:03:44]See you. Thank you.

[00:03:47]Okay, so guys, let's go.

[00:03:49]Uh I'm still walking by the side of the market. Like, this is the major road.

[00:03:57]This is the market. Yeah.

[00:04:00]Today is not their market day and the market is still full.

[00:04:03]I wish I'm here. I'm going to come here again on their market day but I think I can't see for myself.

[00:04:09]Let me try and enter the market right now.

[00:04:12]Yeah. So, according to what I was saying, I've heard a lot of things about Upper Sakonba place. Like some Some people were like, "I should be very careful when I'm coming here oh.

[00:04:22]Like this place is rough oh. They have like so many hooligans and and stuff here." And I was like, "Okay, I'm going to be careful."

[00:04:29]So, coming here now, looking at things, I don't know. I'm kind of skeptical.

[00:04:35]I've not encountered whatsoever here. You know, there's a saying that if you look for problem, problem will look for you.

[00:04:42]>> [laughter] >> I'm not looking for problem, so obviously problem will not look for me.

[00:04:47]Uh-huh. So, I'm here. I'm enjoying my tour for my visit here so far. And the sellers here is very nice.

[00:04:55]Yeah. Even though when it's not their market day, you can see that everywhere is still full.

[00:04:59]Practically, you can even buy your stuff and shop here. But maybe the market day is not. Things can be lesser. You know, just like the If I hear market, when it's their market day, things are really, really cheap.

[00:05:12]But let's just hope I see a seller to talk to.

[00:05:17]That will explain this market for us.

[00:05:18]So, this is practically inside.

[00:05:23]What is their market day? I'm sure that this place will be very crowded, very busy.

[00:05:29]Like very, very.

[00:05:31]So, you get to see various different things.

[00:05:37]Can you see?

[00:05:39]Okay, guys. I think I need to stop the video here and continue at another side.

[00:05:44]Here is looking kind of empty.

[00:05:47]Yeah, it's not that crowded.

[00:05:50]It's not full. Today is a market day, so let's talk to Let's go and look for sellers to talk to.

[00:05:59]So, guys, I'm at a shade. Yeah.

[00:06:02]What should be your name?

[00:06:05]What should be your name?

[00:06:06]Mohammed, okay. Guys, I'm at a shade.

[00:06:09]I'm at Mohammed's shop. He sells beans, rice, uh groundnuts, melon. You see?

[00:06:19]So, he has maize as well. That's the corn, the white and um the yellow.

[00:06:26]Then, he has other stuff. So, that's his This is his shop. So, he sells in bags, he sells in What is it called?

[00:06:34]Bucket like this. This is a paint.

[00:06:36]Obviously, in Benin, they don't have a big paint. All you're going to see in all their markets are small small paints. This paint now, this yellow one is a small paint. Yeah, but they use this one as well.

[00:06:47]So, let me just ask uh how much he's selling these beans. I think I'm familiar with the price of this one. This one, eh?

[00:06:55]This one, for this paint, how much?

[00:06:59]Eh, that black one, this one, how much?

[00:07:02]Eh 3,000. Okay, still the same thing now because I bought this at a Lagos street, 3K, that day. Well, he's saying it's 3,000. 3,000 last.

[00:07:11]Say it's 3,000. I think their price is um normal.

[00:07:16]You say bag give bag, yeah, abi?

[00:07:18]How much be bag of this one?

[00:07:21]110,000.

[00:07:24]Okay, this beans na shokoto, which beans be this?

[00:07:28]Local.

[00:07:30]Okay, I think say na shokoto, maybe from shokoto. Okay, 110,000. He has a lot of things, anyway.

[00:07:36]Na your number be that?

[00:07:38]Na your phone number be that?

[00:07:40]Okay, no be your own.

[00:07:43]So, guys, he has bags anyway. So I'm going to collect his number should in case you guys want to buy bags at um Okara Market. So you guys can reach out to him anytime, any day. He has um What was it called? He has rice as well.

[00:07:56]This is um long grain. This is looking like long grain in my hand. This is looking like short grain. And he said he has the one for 60,000 naira per bag. He has the one for 55,000 naira per bag. So rice now in the market depends on which one you want to buy. Yeah. So it depends. If you If you hold a 45 at Sabo Sales Market, you're going to see. But it might not be a very fantastic rice. If you hold a 55 at Sabo Sales Market, of course you're going to carry a bag of rice. Same as 70, 75.

[00:08:23]You're going to carry a bag of rice depending on the type type of rice. Yes.

[00:08:26]Either local, foreign, long grain, or short grain.

[00:08:30]Okay. [laughter] Yeah. The The prices here are not too bad, really. They're not too bad. So I'm at a shed where they sell chicken. You can see.

[00:08:39]So mainly they have three different types. They have the broiler, this one.

[00:08:45]Always [snorts] looking fresh and innocent. This is a soft chicken. If you want soft chicken, go for broiler.

[00:08:51]Yeah. And they have layers. These are the ones that lay the eggs we eat most of the time. They're not always looking fresh. Look at their skin.

[00:09:00]Yeah. But these are layers. Then they have parent These ones are usually bigger, bigger than the broiler. Yeah.

[00:09:07]And their meat is stronger.

[00:09:09]Yeah. Than the broiler. So can you see?

[00:09:13]So according to her, now she said this one is 27,000. That's the parent That's the basic price. I've not even said the last price. I did not price.

[00:09:21]But she said it's 27. And they said the layers are 9,000 naira per one.

[00:09:26]Yeah. She could still reduce reduce price if you want her to. Then she said this one is 17. You know, the It depends on the one you want to take. It depends on how big they get to charge you on how big the chicken are.

[00:09:40]Yeah, so these are these are the three major ones she has right now while she's busy attending to customers.

[00:09:46]So, yeah.

[00:09:48]I'm going to call her contact should in case.

[00:09:52]This market this Oka market they have their provision section, they have their food stuff. If I go to see food stuff your crayfish, your pepper, your meat, or anything you want.

[00:10:03]They have them they have them as well.

[00:10:05]They have their chicken section which I've seen a lot. Yeah, I think basically they yeah few few shoes, few slippers, few bags. Well, majorly it's it is giving an African village market. Yeah, so guys let's go. Let's keep talking.

[00:10:22]Okay, so guys I'm actually coming outside from the the eating part. I want to go this way.

[00:10:28]Yes, let's see what they have other place.

[00:10:35]Okay, so let's see let's see let's see.

[00:10:39]I'm not I'm not really seeing anything special. Maybe because today is not their market day. I'm not seeing anything special at all whatsoever. It's just basic things you can cook with.

[00:10:53]See meat, see beef, and they have grains here a lot.

[00:10:58]Yeah.

[00:11:00]Okay.

[00:11:02]It's cold, it's nice.

[00:11:06]And two people I've spoken to now they don't want to show their face.

[00:11:10]Uh, I wish I even understand their Bini language very well. It would have even been easier for me. You know, when I was in um the Yoruba kind of Yoruba town it's easier. Let me come out. It's easier, you know, speaking Yoruba, meeting people, interacting with them.

[00:11:28]But now that I'm in uh Bini >> [snorts] >> um majority of them they speak in pigeon sha. But But when you when they know that you understand the I won't Benin language.

[00:11:40]In fact, it's another interaction another level entirely. I'm telling you.

[00:11:44]They're going to so interact with you.

[00:11:47]Yeah, it's one of the challenges but I'm not going to let that one stop me.

[00:11:52]If I want to talk to seller they want to talk to me fine. If they don't want to talk to me still okay. We move.

[00:11:58]Okay, so guys I'm still working.

[00:12:00]Obviously you can see everywhere.

[00:12:04]You can see here we are.

[00:12:10]Okay.

[00:12:12]So this is the market that still extends to this particular place. Let me enter through here.

[00:12:26]table and umbrella That's what we're going to see.

[00:12:32]Okay.

[00:12:34]We're already seeing the end of the road already because today is not a market day now. So majority of the people they don't even come to the market. Maybe they come during the market days.

[00:12:43]They do not they are not here.

[00:12:46]The shop is closed.

[00:12:49]Can you see?

[00:12:51]So the tables a lot of tables I'm seeing around shows that hey the market day is going to be so full.

[00:12:59]Okay, I'm going to go back. Let's go back outside. And obviously see the retail fish. Bonga, lots of them. You're going to see loads.

[00:13:07]In fact, you go chop you go tire.

[00:13:11]And it's not as if it's Benin that is producing the bonga or I heard that they buy them from Warri or Bayelsa.

[00:13:19]Yeah.

[00:13:21]Let's go back outside I beg.

[00:13:26]You are just looking at me.

[00:13:28]Sorry, ma.

[00:13:33]So, let's let's go like this.

[00:13:45]Ah, no, no. I no they buy mommy.

[00:13:49]>> [laughter] >> They all you that. I no buying. I no buying. Come on buy. Come on buy.

[00:14:09]Oh, ma.

[00:14:10]See fish oil.

[00:14:11]Yeah, a big worry. I What is it called?

[00:14:14]Plenty fish.

[00:14:20]Okay, let's see my CD then.

[00:14:22]I'm getting to the end of the market, oh.

[00:14:25]I can't be here on their market day.

[00:14:31]Opa.

[00:14:32]Finally, the almighty Opa.

[00:14:35]Opa market, Oka market.

[00:14:37]Opa circle market.

[00:14:39]So, basically guys, can you see? Even here is all is sort of empty because people are not that plenty.

[00:14:46]Don't worry.

[00:14:48]I'll be back again on Wednesday.

[00:14:56]Okay.

[00:14:58]No bad. No bad. This is another road now.

[00:15:01]Straight down.

[00:15:03]Can you guys see?

[00:15:05]Yeah. This is a village market.

[00:15:07]I'm going to be back.

[00:15:10]So, I'm on this lane. They have pepper.

[00:15:12]This is a dry pepper. Dry chili pepper.

[00:15:14]Very popular here in Nigeria. Yeah, this is this one is 500 naira.

[00:15:18]>> [laughter] >> And I think it's it's plenty in my higher. It's plenty. So they they have grounded one as well. If you don't want to buy this one, you buy grounded one. You see the same 5 500.

[00:15:30]They have other stuff, too.

[00:15:32]Onions.

[00:15:33]They have What is it called? Beans. Can you guys see?

[00:15:38]They beans as well. They have a melon.

[00:15:41]Yeah.

[00:15:42]Basic things that you're going to see in a wheelbarrow. And this majorly are our sellers. Yeah. So guys, let's go. Okay, so you get to see this a lot in Benin.

[00:15:53]In Benin City. This is starch. So they eat this one with any any soup of your choice. Either afang, vegetable soup, or ha. Yeah, this is starch. It's swallow.

[00:16:05]Yeah, you get to see it in the majorly eastern south south part of Nigeria. So how much is it?

[00:16:12]3,000 naira. Okay, see. Oh, 3,500. And it's even even it's cheap. It's not even expensive. All right, I just want to show you. See like this.

[00:16:20]It's usually white, though, but they mix it with oil. You know, when it when when turning.

[00:16:25]Okay guys, let's go.

[00:16:27]Another thing you're going to see here is catfish. I've seen the dry one over there. And this is like the fresh one.

[00:16:34]And majorly she has like two types. She said this one is 9,000 naira. Obviously it's bigger. Can you see? That is big.

[00:16:40]Yeah. And then she said this one is 6,000 naira. These are the basic prices.

[00:16:44]I didn't know tell her to tell me her last price.

[00:16:49]So yeah, she's busy. She doesn't want to speak to me. Speak to the camera. So yeah.

[00:16:55]Let's go, guys.

[00:16:56]So guys, I'm going to be here again definitely on Wednesday. They told me that their market day is every four days. Yeah, so Wednesday is going to be another market day. So I need to come here. Being the first time, I did not really really really feel the market like that. So I need to come back here again on Wednesday. Let's see. Let's see how they sell. If I I compare this market to that of Equba Hill. Yeah. So, guys, that's all today.

[00:17:21]I didn't even speak. And majorly majority of what they have is just normal normal food stuff. Yeah, I think the only unique thing about the market would be if I can witness if I can come here on the market day to see talk to sellers, know how much they are selling, price, and I know do stuff. So, I'm going to be reporting back to you guys on Wednesday. Just chill. Today is just for maybe familiarities. I've heard a lot about Okah market like up our up our up I've heard a lot about this place like a lot.

[00:17:50]I was supposed to have been here ever since last year. Yeah. Well, I told you be careful.

[00:17:57]Don't come to Okah.

[00:17:58]Be careful on your phone title. You know, a lot of things people tell me about this place.

[00:18:05]But, so far so good. Maybe because today is not their market day. So far so good.

[00:18:08]I've not really encountered any any problem or any harassment or anybody shouting at me or anything today. And I didn't see any hooligans like people that they have a lot of touts here. Be careful. I did not see I've not seen any so far. So, today is a good day obviously. And I know that Wednesday is going to be better. So, guys, till next time. If you're new to my channel, my name is Tobi. This is what we do here.

[00:18:32]We go to markets all around Nigeria, talk to sellers, talk to talk talk to people about our markets, showcase how we trade, our lifestyle, things we do, you know, all around our food sometimes, talk about our street food as well.

[00:18:47]In Nigeria. So, if you're new to my channel, my name is Tobi. Just click on Do not forget to click on the subscribe button. If you have not subscribed yet. If you're a returning subscriber, of course, thank you so much. Without you guys, I'm not going to come all the way from Lagos to Benin.

[00:19:02]So, thank you guys for encouraging me.

[00:19:04]Thank you for always sharing, commenting.

[00:19:06]I love you from head to toe.

[00:19:08]>> [laughter] [screaming] >> I love YOU. I LOVE YOU GUYS so much. So, it's a bye. See you next time. I'm going to see you guys soon.

[00:19:15]Take care of yourself. Don't stress.

[00:19:17]Don't stress, okay? I love you all.

[00:19:19]Bye-bye.

[00:19:20]Bye.

[00:19:24]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music]