Definition of OKRIKA
Phonetic Transcription: /ō-krē-kä/
OKRIKA is a Nigerian pidgin word for second-hand or fairly used items—especially clothes, shoes, bags, curtains, bedsheets, and towels. Originally, it referred to imported used clothes and apparel, but over time it came to include almost any foreign used textile or household item. In markets and street stalls across Nigeria, “OKRIKA” items are valued because they are cheaper than brand-new goods yet often of higher quality than low-cost new items.
For decades, “OKRIKA” has been part of Nigeria’s informal economy. It offers affordable options for the lower and middle-income classes and is an essential part of everyday shopping. In pidgin, someone might say, “I dey go buy OKRIKA shirt for market,” meaning they are going to buy second-hand clothes.
In cultural terms, “OKRIKA” has become synonymous with bargain hunting, ingenuity, and recycling. Many Nigerians see buying “OKRIKA” as both practical and stylish. Fashion trends are sometimes built around creative reworking of “OKRIKA” clothes into new designs. For many households, “OKRIKA” also provides access to imported fabrics and brands that would otherwise be unaffordable.
The word carries a layered meaning. On one hand, it’s an economic lifeline, creating jobs for importers, market traders, and tailors. On the other hand, it reflects Nigeria’s dependence on imports and second-hand goods from wealthier nations. This duality gives “OKRIKA” a complex identity in Nigerian discourse.
- Synonyms: “Bend-down select,” “Fairly used,” “Tokunbo (used cars and electronics).”
- Antonyms: “Brand new,” “Unused,” “Factory fresh.”
Listen to how OKRIKA is pronounced in this short video below.
Usage Examples
- Informal: “Na OKRIKA jeans I buy for market yesterday.”
- Formal: “OKRIKA refers to imported second-hand clothes and household textiles commonly sold in Nigerian markets.”
- Idiomatic: “That guy dey always package OKRIKA like designer.”
Cultural Context
Origin
The name “OKRIKA” comes from Okrika, a coastal town and local government area in Rivers State, southern Nigeria. Historically, Okrika was a major port area known for trade and fishing. During the oil boom and the growth of Nigeria’s port cities, Okrika became an entry point for imported goods, including used clothing from Europe and North America.
By the 1970s and 1980s, when secondhand imports were surging, Okrika markets became famous for their wide selection and relatively low prices. Traders from across Nigeria traveled to Okrika to buy bulk bales of used clothes, which they then sold in markets across the country. This reputation was so strong that the town’s name became shorthand for all imported used clothing.
The process typically involved shipments of “bales” arriving at port cities, being cleared by customs, and then being distributed through wholesalers and retailers. Over time, as second-hand trade spread inland to Lagos, Onitsha, Kano, and Abuja, the term “OKRIKA” followed. It no longer only described goods from Okrika itself but became a catchall term for any foreign used apparel.
The practice also reflects broader global patterns of recycling and trade. Many of the used clothes originally came from charity donations or thrift stores in Europe and North America. By the time they reach Nigeria, they are rebranded as “OKRIKA.” This shows how local language evolves to capture global economic flows.
Regional Usage
Today, “OKRIKA” is a nationwide phenomenon. Major “OKRIKA” markets exist in Lagos (Yaba, Oshodi), Abuja, Port Harcourt, Aba, and Kano. These markets are often called “bend-down select” markets because customers bend down to sort through piles of second-hand clothes.
In the south-south and southeast, “OKRIKA” retains its original link to the Rivers State town. In Lagos and Abuja, it’s purely a generic term for second-hand items. In the north, where cultural styles differ, “OKRIKA” includes not just Western-style clothing but also second-hand traditional wear and materials.
“OKRIKA” has also gained a pop-cultural presence. In Nigerian music and comedy, jokes about “OKRIKA clothes” highlight class, style, and hustle. In pidgin, someone might proudly say, “I fit rock OKRIKA better pass designer” meaning, “I can style OKRIKA clothes better than new designer outfits.”
In West Africa, the concept of “OKRIKA” is understood even outside Nigeria. In Ghana, it is called “obroni wawu” (dead white man’s clothes), while in Sierra Leone and Liberia, it is also widely known as second-hand or “bend-down.” However, the Nigerian term “OKRIKA” is especially iconic because of its historical roots in a specific location.
How do you use the word “OKRIKA”? Drop your example in pidgin, like ‘Na OKRIKA shoe I dey wear go party!