With two days to go before the end of the year 2022, the movement of people in the large shopping centers of the city of Benguela is notorious – everyone is looking for a piece of white clothing for the traditional end-of-year party.
Emília João is a clothing trader at the informal 4 de Abril market, the largest in the province. she told the Kianda’s mail which, at this stage of the year, seeks to place, preferably, white clothes on its bench, as this is what customers are most looking for.
“At this stage I sell more white clothes. People are looking for dresses, pants, shorts, t-shirts and even socks to spend New Year’s Eve. I’ve been selling a lot since Monday,” she said.
Josef Pelé, of Congolese nationality, who has lived in Benguela for 12 years, said that he has been selling in the market in the center of Benguela for 3 years and at the end of the year he seeks to stock white clothes from the world’s leading brands in his store. Prices range from 25,000 to 150,000 kwanzas.
“You won’t find pirate clothes here. All original. I bring it from France and Italy. People in Benguela like original clothes and I sell from 25 to 150 thousand kwanzas and they buy”, said the merchant.
Geovana Cassapi told us that she purposely came to the 4th of April market to buy a dress to wear to the New Year’s Eve party that she and her cousins are organizing at her grandmother’s house, in the Fronteira neighbourhood.
“I came to 4 to buy a white dress. I have a tradition of entering the New Year in white and this one will be no different. We are going to meet with my cousins and other family members at my grandmother’s house in the Fronteira neighbourhood. I hope that everything goes well and that the next year will bring much peace and achievements in the lives of all Angolans, especially the people of Benguela”, she countered.
Ernesto Vicente is a teacher and lives in the municipality of Cubal. He told us that he came to the province’s headquarters looking for a t-shirt and white pants to spend New Year’s Eve in the traditional color, he said that in his municipality, what he saw did not please him.
“I came to the provincial headquarters to buy New Year’s Eve clothes. I have a habit of wearing white at the end of the year. I believe it brings peace and prosperity. I have this experience, that’s why I insist. I have already bought my ticket for the big party at the level of my municipality. I’ll be with friends and people we live with throughout the year. I hope a good 2023 for all of us”, he said.