With nothing but a bucket of pineapple slices balanced on his head, 19 year old Kongne Valdex moves through the Coron Siantou headquarters in Yaoundé, hustling to make last minute money for back to school.
As holidays end, students across Yaoundé are counting their earnings from small businesses rather than vacation days. “Fruits, fruits, 100 frs a slice, Kongne Valdex , a fruit seller’s voice cuts through the midday bustle as he navigates the Coron Siantou headquarters, offering his services to nearby workers. Unlike stationary vendors, Kongne supplies fruits directly to the spot – a slice for 100 FCFA at times, sometimes 1500 FCFA, but rarely, he says.
He has no stand, no fixed location, just a transparent bucket of fresh pineapple and the determination to earn his school fees. “I started with five thousand francs my mother gave me,” he explains, carefully adjusting his fruits in the bucket. “Now I have kept money for back to school.” The small business began the moment holidays were announced. Each morning, Kongne buys pineapples at market price, then transforms them into ready to eat slices in his family’s compound.
By 10 a.m., he is on the move, strategically positioning himself near office buildings when workers take breaks, especially when the sun rises. He is not a seller in school. “This is strictly holiday work,” he says. “I do this only during holidays, be it long term or short term holidays. I sell whatever is in season, it might be fruits or something different like boiled groundnuts , eggs ” He chooses to move around so he does not miss potential customers who want fruits but can not locate any vendors.
The bucket on head method serves dual purposes, indirectly advertising his business to passersby. “People see the pineapple and remember they are thirsty,” Kongne laughs, explaining his reason for walking around rather than staying at a stand. The challenges are constant the physical strain of carrying weight for hours is his only challenge for now.
As the holiday progresses, so does his business. When schools reopen, Kongne will return to his studies, leaving his bucket behind after having helped both his mother and provided for himself.
