This black and white photograph depicts a busy market street in Barbados full of shoppers buying fruit and vegetables. It was taken between 1950 and 1969.

Take a look at the photograph

Here is a very crowded market scene featuring fruit and vegetable stalls. We can see bananas, yam, sweet potatoes, dasheen, okra and spinach leaves on sale. The men wear caps or hats to keep off the sun. The women traders are smartly dressed in floral dresses, with aprons and sunhats. Some shoppers carry baskets on their heads. In the foreground, we can see one of the women quite closely. She looks weary from the heat or the long hours standing.

Listen to the audio description

Here is a very crowded market scene featuring fruit and vegetable stalls. We can see bananas, yam, sweet potatoes, dasheen, okra and spinach leaves on sale. The men wear caps or hats to keep off the sun. The women traders are smartly dressed in floral dresses, with aprons and sunhats. Some shoppers carry baskets on their heads. In the foreground, we can see one of the women quite closely. She looks weary from the heat or the long hours standing.

Click on the image to enlarge for more detail

A guide for helpers

To encourage further reflection on each photograph, we’ve provided additional suggestions for care workers or helpers to use with individuals or with groups.

Read our guide for helpers

What do you think?

    1. Does this photograph remind you of markets from the past? What kind of memories does this trigger for you from the past? How often did you go? What did you like about it? Do you still prefer shopping in markets if you can? Why? Do you try to bargain with the traders?
    2. How did you get to market? Did you travel by bike, walk or drive? How long would it take you to get there?
    3. Some people in the photograph have baskets to carry home their purchases. These were often made from bamboo. How did you carry things home? Did everyone in the family help?
    4. What sort of sounds might you experience in a market like this? Which particular smells can you recall from visiting a market? Are they pleasant or not?
    5. Listen to this interview with Rephael (or read the transcript here). Does this change the way you view the image now?

    Listen to the audio description

Did you know?

In the Caribbean, you often refer to market traders as ‘higglers’. Take a look at the baskets on the women’s heads. Can you see a piece of cloth wound up to support the basket on the head? These are called ‘cotters’.

Listen to the audio description