At a random time on a random road in Mombasa a man pushes his mkokoteni (wheel cart) and shouts 'Maaaali Maaaali, Maaaali Maaaali'. On hearing this some ladies living in the vicinity come out of their houses with a wad of old clothes. The mali mali exchanges new items (mostly crockery) for old clothes.
A typical scenario would include a lady demanding 6 bowls instead of 5 for the 2 pair of trousers and 5 shirts she gave away. The mali mali would then complain on the condition of the clothes and as they're haggling perhaps a nearby beggar runs away with anything he can grab. This exciting form of barter trade pleases all. The children even come out in hopes of persuading their parent to get a a toy as one of the returns.
Growing up it was a fascinating scheme to witness. I do wonder where they have all disappeared to. It's been forever since I last saw them.
Shops selling lambswool blankets and kilts, Haggas being advertised on chalk boards outside restaurants and bagpipes playing in the background are mostly what to expect on a walk down the narrow cobblestone streets of the city. An Edinburgh inhabitant will tell you a Haggas is an animal which lives on the mountains which has one leg shorter then the other for ease to climb up the mountain, but one wonders what would happen to the poor animal if it wished to go downhill. lol. Turns out it's a meal with goat stomach stuffed with don't know what.
