Businesses from across London set up shop in Hackney’s annual Black-owned Christmas Market over the weekend.
From skincare vendors to anti-racist booksellers, the market was full of opportunities for people to buy presents and support Black-owned businesses.
Restaurant directory BlackEatsLDN brought a number of food vendors selling African and Caribbean food to Bohemia Place Market. People could find a selection of stalls selling Nigerian puff puffs, jollof rice and jerk chicken all over the market.
this market has definitely brought us together as a community
African Caribbean Emporium, based in Bohemia Place, had a stall outside their shop selling clothes made by 60 designers across Africa and the Caribbean.
“The market’s great for the shop”, said Will, owner of African Caribbean Emporium. “I opened the shop to get Black designers’ stuff out there because there’s nothing around Hackney. It’s a majority Black area but there’s no real shops for them.”
“The market’s been really good”, said the vendors from Michael L Harper Ltd, a freelance graphics designer selling a range of educational resources on Africa and the Caribbean.
“Each time we come here we get new neighbours. We’re able to find out their story and tell our story, so this market has definitely brought us together as a community. Everyone’s come from all parts of London.”
The Black-owned Christmas Market has been running for three years, with its final event of the season taking place in partnership with DJ Duo Mothaland Sound on 3 December. Bohemia Place Market will then run a general Christmas Market every weekend until 19 December.
