The Marketplace

Formerly Afrikan Sistahs Marketplace

The Marketplace

Oja Iyalaje Afrika/Afrikan Sistahs Marketplace

Marketing and Shopping without Borders

A Collective of International African Women

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Our Mission

In the history of our race the women were the masters of the marketplace. Today, more than ever the definition of marketplace is the arena of business.

We can no longer be satisfied with being relegated to being a naive group of consumers. We are reclaiming our place in the marketplace. We are no longer going to stand still and be taken advantage of by any other race or, group that does not value our community nor, the money we spend to make others prosperous. To those that refuse to give back to our community, be forewarned: We are charting a new course, a re-direction of our economic power; and a new wave for our future way of being.

Our economic agenda is to empower our own businesses. We know that within our community the huge amount of capital we invest in world markets is better served in our own hands.

With the blessings of our Ancestors and God Almighty we are in the process of re-birth, growth and expansion.

We are creating a place within the marketplace to come together to develop "our" own market. We are a network working together to list our businesses to a market that wants to keep our monies within our own community longer by shopping among our own community. We will support our own businesses, talents, products, artists...Our market will cater to the broad spectrum of services that need to be marketed, shared and supported.

We must understand the crucial nature of supporting our own businesses. The market can be ours---we just have to do it.

Join us as we grow, make history and make money work for us. Feel free to share the news of our new market venture to members of the African family that have vision; who know that it all begins with us.

Continue to check back for additions and updates. In the meantime, please, feel free to browse our on-line "mall" here at this site, or begin to shop by clicking here.

Ayounde Osebunmi

for

Oja Iyalaje Afrika

"It is not inconsequential that the market is a major setting of social and economic activity involving primarily women. Trading is probably the most common profession among women in Yoruba society. Indeed, the market is controlled by women; it's administrative head, the Iyalode, holds a position on the King's council of Chiefs. Women are economically independent, and through trading they can acquire greater wealth and higher status than their husbands. (Lloyd 1963:39;1974:38)..the women's realm, the place where their collective social power is most consciously felt..the Marketplace is thus a most appropriate setting...that seeks to gather all segments of the society in order to pay homage to the special power of women and to partake of their influence. ..The market is a transient place, at once the domain of women...woman are considered the "owners of the world" (oni l'oni aiye). They control the world; they control the market. Indeed the Market is microcosm of the world.."

From "Gelede: Art and Female Power Among The Yoruba" by Henry and Margaret Drewal