Adawlato — The Grand Market District, Lomé
neighborhood · Golfe 4 Commune (Amoutivé) — Lomé · Lomé
Adawlato — The Grand Market District
Adawlato is the historic downtown district of Lomé, home to the Grand Market, known locally as Assigamé (in the Mina language). Once a largely residential district, it has become the capital's major commercial hub.
The Grand Market (Assigamé)
The market was inaugurated on July 25, 1967 by President Eyadéma Gnassingbé. Today it is one of the 15 largest markets in West Africa, ranking 2nd in the sub-region behind the Dantokpa market in Benin.
Its regional economic importance stems from its proximity to the Autonomous Port of Lomé, the only deep-water port in West Africa, which draws traders and merchants from neighboring Ghana, Benin, and Burkina Faso.
Historical heritage
The district is home to the first Catholic church building in Togo: the Sacred Heart Cathedral, built in 1902 by German missionaries of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD).
The 2013 fire and reconstruction
In January 2013, a fire destroyed the historic buildings of the Adawlato market. The Grand Market of Lomé has since been in a reconstruction phase, a project led by EPAM (the public agency overseeing market development).
Current character
Most of the surrounding colonial houses have disappeared in favor of commercial buildings. The district is very lively during the day but largely empties out at nightfall.
Commerce
- Textiles and fabrics (wax prints, pagnes)
- Food (local and imported goods)
- Regional import-export
- Crafts and small retail
Access
- Direct shared taxis from anywhere in the city
- Immediate proximity to the Autonomous Port of Lomé
- Very busy area during the day
Practical tips
- Visit in the morning — peak activity, cooler temperatures
- Avoid evenings — the district empties out, less activity
- Bargaining is standard — posted prices are only a starting point
Last verified: September 11, 2026 Sources: Togo Ministry of Commerce — Visit to Adawlato
adawlato at the 2022 census
At Togo's fifth general population and housing census (RGPH-5, November 2022), INSEED counted 132 residents in adawlato: 73 men and 59 women, or 124 men per 100 women. The neighbourhood belongs to the Golfe 4 commune, in the Golfe prefecture. It holds 0.1% of the commune's 155,842 residents and ranks 28 of 28 neighbourhoods by population. Greater Lomé has 2,188,376 residents.
Neighbourhoods of the Golfe 4 commune
| Neighbourhood | Residents (2022) | Men | Women | Share of the commune |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nyékonakpoé | 22,100 | 10,516 | 11,584 | 14.2% |
| Kodjoviakopé | 14,848 | 6,829 | 8,019 | 9.5% |
| Tokoin Gbadago | 11,883 | 5,944 | 5,939 | 7.6% |
| Dogbeavou | 10,365 | 5,148 | 5,217 | 6.7% |
| Tokoin Solidarite | 9,810 | 4,744 | 5,066 | 6.3% |
| Tokoin Ouest | 9,451 | 4,534 | 4,917 | 6.1% |
| Lom Nava | 9,413 | 4,816 | 4,597 | 6.0% |
| Be Klikame | 8,950 | 4,421 | 4,529 | 5.7% |
| Doulassame | 8,328 | 4,306 | 4,022 | 5.3% |
| Tokoin Hopital | 6,256 | 2,964 | 3,292 | 4.0% |
| Octaviono Netime | 5,562 | 2,635 | 2,927 | 3.6% |
| Amoutivé | 5,344 | 2,686 | 2,658 | 3.4% |
| Above | 5,000 | 2,284 | 2,716 | 3.2% |
| Akossombo | 3,742 | 1,852 | 1,890 | 2.4% |
| Aguia Komé | 3,499 | 1,589 | 1,910 | 2.2% |
| Quartier Administratif | 3,421 | 2,890 | 531 | 2.2% |
| Béniglato | 3,051 | 1,323 | 1,728 | 2.0% |
| Hanoukopé | 2,806 | 1,344 | 1,462 | 1.8% |
| Bassadji | 2,230 | 1,074 | 1,156 | 1.4% |
| Adoboukomé | 2,003 | 929 | 1,074 | 1.3% |
| Casablanca | 1,993 | 943 | 1,050 | 1.3% |
| Abobokome | 1,432 | 613 | 819 | 0.9% |
| Wétrivi Kondji | 1,376 | 692 | 684 | 0.9% |
| Sanguéra | 956 | 442 | 514 | 0.6% |
| Fréau Jardin | 715 | 362 | 353 | 0.5% |
| Koketime | 642 | 279 | 363 | 0.4% |
| Agbadahonou | 534 | 269 | 265 | 0.3% |
| adawlato | 132 | 73 | 59 | 0.1% |
Official source (accessed 17 October 2026)
- National Institute of Statistics and Economic and Demographic Studies (INSEED), RGPH-5, booklet 1: spatial distribution of the population by sex (French), 2022: resident population by sex of every neighbourhood of the Golfe and Agoè-Nyivé prefectures (tables 10 and 11).