Public markets 2.1 HAITI
Which historic market in the Haitian capital, located near the port, takes its name from the Spanish word historically designating the African captives who were sold there during the colonial era?
75% of players answered correctly.
THE CORRECT ANSWER: The Croix-des-Bossales Market
The Croix-des-Bossales Market is one of the oldest and most historic commercial spaces in Port-au-Prince. Its name dates back to the colonial period of Santo Domingo, a time when the term “bossale” designated African captives newly landed on the island, as opposed to slaves born there called Creoles. The area then served as a place for unloading, sorting and selling these human beings. Over the centuries and after the independence of Haiti, this site was transformed to become the largest open-air market in the country. Today, it constitutes the hub for the supply of foodstuffs and manufactured products for the entire metropolitan area. Despite the infrastructural challenges, Croix-des-Bossales retains this historical memory while remaining the economic heart of Haitian informal trade, where goods from all provinces of the country pass daily.