Marché Capitale, Nouakchott

The Marché Capitale is the main central market of Nouakchott, a bustling district of stalls and shops selling fabrics, silverwork, spices, dates and everyday goods. It is a centre for Mauritanian craft traditions, particularly silver jewellery and leatherwork produced by artisans across the country. The crowded lanes reflect the mix of Moorish and sub-Saharan cultures that meet in the capital. As the commercial heart of a city built largely in the second half of the twentieth century, the market is a focal point of daily urban life.