Croix des Bossales Market in Port-au-Prince (Marche Croix des Bosal port-au-prince bord de mer)

F Lamille

Croix des Bossales Market in Port-au-Prince (Marche Croix des Bosal port-au-prince bord de mer)

F. Lamille

Haiti Friends Collection

The Croix des Bossales market teems with life, depicting a diverse array of figures engaged in the daily bustle of commerce. Originally known as "Place des Bossales," this site was once one of the largest slave markets during Haiti's colonial period. The term "bossale" referred to newly arrived Africans who had not yet been forcibly acculturated or 'creolized'. Today's lively market stands in stark contrast to its origins. The transformation of this space from a site of oppression to a center of community and commerce reflects the broader narrative of Haiti's struggle for independence and its ongoing cultural vitality.