Zoma, Marketplace in Analakely district, Antananarivo, Madagascar

Zoma is a large open-air market in the Analakely district of Antananarivo, stretching across several streets and instantly recognizable by rows of white parasols. The stalls sell fresh produce, dried goods, food items, and handmade crafts from sellers across the island.

The Zoma was created by royal decree in the late 18th century and held every Friday along more than 900 metres of the Avenue de l'Indépendance and the Avenue du 26-Juin-1960, up to the Avenue Andrianampoinimerina in Analakely. It was closed in 1997 for unsanitary conditions, with the support of residents. Since then trade has concentrated around the tiled-roof pavilions of the Analakely market, open daily along the Avenue Andrianampoinimerina.

The name Zoma simply means "Friday" in Malagasy, because trading days were once limited to that single day of the week. Today the market runs every day, but locals still call it by the old name.

Arriving early in the morning gives the best chance to find the freshest goods and the most active trading. Comfortable shoes are a good idea since getting around the stalls means a fair amount of walking through narrow rows.

At one point the Zoma was considered one of the largest open-air markets in the world, with thousands of stalls on the busiest days. That scale drew traders from far beyond the city, turning it into a destination known across the country.