In a second-hand shop in the suburbs of Senegal’s capital, Seynabou Sarr is inundated with orders days before West Africa’s largest Muslim festival of Tabaski. Sarr, 30, constantly answers calls while showing customers second-hand boubous — a traditional robe worn by both men and women at religious or ceremonial occasions. Tabaski — marked by most Senegalese on Monday — is celebrated with great pomp.
However, it can put families under pressure over the need to spend on food and new clothes. Wearing the same outfit two years running is frowned upon. “People used to be ashamed to wear second-hand clothes for fear of being mocked or denigrated,” Sarr, who is also known as Nabou, said.
“But increasingly, many are becoming aware of their benefits.” For Tabaski — the West African name for Eid — customers want boubous made from luxury fabrics, adorned with pearls and embroidery – but not with a luxury price tag. When new, some boubous can cost up to 250,000 CFA francs ($405).
This is a small fortune in a country where the median salary is 54,000 CFA francs ($88) a month. But at the boutique, it is possible to find one for as little as 90,000 CFA francs or less. Second-hand success in Senegal Nabou launched her business online in 2018 before opening the shop in 2022.
She now has more than 80,000 followers on TikTok. Abdou Fall has this year opted for a second-hand tunic — an elegant three-piece with beautiful embroidery around the neck. He bought it for 60,0.
