Fresh Fruit, Fresh Look: Welcome to Musanze!

Experienced travellers often say that visiting a market offers an unmatched plunge into local culture: a glimpse into the daily rhythms and the very feel of a country. In the lively atmosphere of the Musanze Agri Market, filled with chatter and laughter, you can sense Rwanda’s passion for rapid urbanisation and order.

In 2023–2024, the local government completely rebuilt the market, aiming to transform it into a spacious, modern space befitting the booming town of Musanze. Gone are the haphazard wooden stalls where loud vendors once competed for attention. In their place stands a vast, well-designed structure built to handle large crowds while offering a pleasant shopping experience.

Step inside and you’re greeted by neatly paved aisles and clear signs showing where to find different types of goods. Hygiene is a priority, with cleaning crews at work throughout the day. A cooperative of porters is on hand to carry your purchases — but only once you’ve taken them outside the building yourself.

Open daily from 7am to 9pm., the market displays a bounty of fruits and vegetables from across Rwanda. Prices are enticing: a kilogram of passion fruit for about USD 1, a watermelon for USD 2, and a kilogram of Irish potatoes for under USD 1 — provided you’re ready to bargain a little. Sellers have kept pace with the times, accepting both cash and Mobile Money payments.

The market’s expansion has been a boon for local farmers, giving them a ready outlet for produce from the fertile countryside surrounding the Virungas. Yet, despite this new era, long-time residents may still call it “Kariyeri”, a name believed to come from the French word “carrière”, which is what Belgian colonial officials were thought to have called the area.

text by Diana Irumva, Stella Sangwa Kevine & Providence Icyuzuzo; photos by Diana Irumva