The main market in central Kolwezi is, like central markets across Congo, the easiest way to see the everyday life of the place outside the mining sector. Cassava, fish brought up from the Lualaba, fabrics in the famous Congolese wax prints, kitchen goods imported via Lubumbashi, and a fair amount of basic mining-camp supplies share the stalls.
The market is busy, friendly and unthreatening in daylight hours; common sense applies as anywhere in central Africa. The food stalls around the edges are the easiest place to try Katangan staples — fufu with smoked fish, grilled chicken, ugali — at local prices.