📍Abeokuta, Nigeria

I have been thrifting in Abeokuta since my secondary school days and I can tell you which spots actually deliver. Forget the hype, here are the real plug spots.

First, you have to hit the area around Kuto Market, specifically the stretch along Abeokuta-Ibadan Road. There is a row of shops directly opposite the Kuto roundabout that specialises in imported bales. The owners are usually direct importers so you get fresh arrivals every Thursday morning. If you go by 7am, you will pick up brand new Zara and H&M pieces for as low as 1,500 naira. I found a Ralph Lauren shirt there last month for 2k. Just be ready to bargain hard.

For vintage Nigerian fabrics and Ankara, head to Ita-Oshin. There is a compound behind the First Bank branch called Oke-Ijemo. Inside, women sell old wrapper materials and agbada that have been collected from family estates. I bought a 1970s senator agbada for 3,500 naira there. The embroidery was still intact. You just need to dig through the bundles.

The real hidden gem is at Olomore junction by the roundabout. There is a lady called Mama Bose who sets up her stall under the big iroko tree around 4pm on weekdays. She gets unsold stock from the big thrift markets in Lagos. Expect Diesel, Tommy Hilfiger, and even some Nike sneakers. The sizes are small though so if you wear UK 42 and above, you might struggle.

For shoes specifically, go to the Ijaye area behind the old post office. There is a stretch called Oke-Ona where cobblers set up shops with imported secondhand boots and leather shoes. They clean and polish them before selling so they look almost new. I got a pair of brown leather brogues for 4,000 naira that would have cost 25k at the mall.

Do not sleep on the area behind Oke Mosan filling station. There is a mini thrift market every Saturday from 6am to 10am. The sellers come from Oyo State with fresh bales that have not been picked through. That is where I found a genuine Burberry trench coat for 6k. The seller did not know what it was.

One tip: always carry cash because POS machines are rare at these spots. Also, go early. By 10am, the good stuff is gone.

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