Bitiks

The local shops within a village are called Bitik's. I think this comes from the French word Boutique. They are small rooms usually on the end of a compound, run by a main shopkeeper with a little help from others in the family. The goods you can purchase are pretty standard from bitik to bitik. The most popular things bought are tea and sugar for brewing attaya, oil and seasoning for dinner, biscuits or hard candy for little kids, and cigarettes. Other luxury items sold are batteries, candles, canned milk, soap, and incense.  Not all goods are available at all times from all bitik's so a trip out for sugar and tea is liable to lead you to each of the three shops comparing varieties, prices, and quantity. It's not really too big of a problem for an adult though, because when you need something you just call a little kid over and give him or her the money to go to the shop for you. This is actually referred to as sending a "small boy." Nothing is bought in excess and saved at home, so whenever a slight desire arises to have something from the shop, a kid is called over and sent out. They come back with the goods and the change, or another small boy is sent out to investigate.

Newly built shop. It started out with this guy- Lamin Fatty- just sitting on the road and selling things off of a table. It's run and tended by Lamin with guidance and construction from his father Musa. It's going places!

This is Siaka Fatty's. His dad ran it for a long time but he is now too old to work. It's the biggest, oldest, and most reliable shop but clear on the far side of town.

This is Forday Danpha's shop. It is the closest shop but he works quite a bit out in the bush and his supply sometimes runs a little low, but sometimes he has bread.