In the Shape of Home

Music spills from one market stall into the next. Older women stand in clusters, gisting and laughing amongst themselves, shopping bags hooked around their wrists. Stopping to say hello to one auntie and “nice to meet you” to another. Gold jewellery glints from every direction. Bangles stack upon bangles, rings catch the sunlight, and oversized sunglasses sit proudly atop carefully styled hair.

Children weave between tables piled high with fabric, while salon doors swing open and shut in a steady rhythm. Somewhere, an uncle erupts into laughter loud enough for half the Poort to hear. The smell of Pom and Saoto soup hangs in the air, dancing to the sweet tune of Kibbeling sizzling.