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PURCHASING / SCORE CARD Magazine Subscriptions: Special packages available for Africa Travel Magazine. Keep up to date on travel careers, opportunities, tours and destinations. http://www.africa-ata.org/subsc.htm   Shopping for Fashion and Cultural Items by Muguette Goufrani Wearable art. Unique headgear and clothing styles that reflect every corner of this vast continent of Africa, are available in thousands of markets, souks and boutiques across the country, including the giant "Merkato" in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Contemporary fashions are showcased at events such as the two Fashion Parades which took place at the ATA Jubilee Congress in Addis Ababa, May, 2000, and the previous years in Ghana and Tanzania. Togo is a shoppers' paradise. Lome's central market, where we bargained for many of my favorite keepsakes and wardrobe items, rates as one of the five best shopping sites in Africa. At Maison Royale, my friends and I were dazzled by an elegant gold Mercedes- Benz, parked at the entrance, gleaming in the mid-day sun. A symbol of wealth and success in North America, these upscale autos are commonplace in Lome, many being owned by "Nana Benz"&emdash; women traders, so named because they all appear to be Mercedes Benz owners. Most taxicabs are owned by this enterprising group. World's Largest Fetish Market. While in Togo, we spent a full day at Akodessewas, the world's largest fetish market, with its array of sorcerers' potions; roots, bark, monkey skulls, wart hog teeth, porcupine skins, leopard hides, antelope horns, bones of crocodiles, horses, pigs and monkeys, plus various parts of human anatomy. Such concoctions are used to cure everything from diarrhea and the flu, to cuts, impotence and rheumatism. I tried on a gris gris (necklace), which is said to work its magic when blessed by a fetish priest. Part doctor, part psychic, the priest relies on herbal medicines, charms and a healthy dose of positive thinking. They believe that the spirits are everywhere -- in the air, the trees, the water - even buildings. A priest calls on his favorite god to predict future events, and keep evil forces at bay. He sits on a stool in his colorful robe, holding a regal staff, receiving gifts of gin, which he sips as a troupe performs ritual chanting and dancing. A sacrificial offering is made as a show of loyalty and respect to the spirits, and to gain special favors, such as the birth of twins. Continued What is Kente Cloth? Basically, it's an Asante ceremonial cloth that is hand-woven on a horizontal treadle loom. The looms we saw at the village near Kumasi were out in the open air, although in a grassy, shaded area. Cloth strips, approximately 4 inches wide are sewn together into larger bolts. Of many colors, sizes and designs, Kente cloth items, long scarfs in particular, are worn throughout Ghana and its neighboring countries, during most social and religious occasions. The name comes from the word 'kenten', which means basket. We saw virtually every possible color and pattern of kente cloth during the day-long Durbar ceremony at Koforidua village near Accra. According to Ghanaians, kente depicts the area's history and philosophy, its ethics, oral literature, moral values, social and religious concepts. Books on Business and Travel Destinations, with a focus on Sunny Africa by Muguette M. Goufrani As a Travel Agent/Tour conductor, who is now heavily involved in the publishing business, I spend many hours in and around books. I seek out places that are user-friendly, like our friend Kevin McKeown's basement shop down the street, which offers rare titles. To me, each local branch of Chapters is "Bookstore Heaven." While the new owners have removed most of the comfy chairs, going there is still a destination in itself. As for public libraries, every week we drive at least 20 extra miles through downtown traffic and road blocks, to the suburb of Richmond, just to frequent our favorite library. It is clean, courteous, well stocked and they do all the little things right. The same goes for choosing (or not choosing) Web Sites. Some are user-friendly, yet far too many seem anxious to take your money and run or try to impress you with complicated concepts that don't work. Many others, some of them big name company or government sites, are almost impossible to navigate , leaving the viewer in total frustration. As time goes by we will introduce you to our choice of sites as well as books. Happy Reading.   List , Reviews and Recommendations to come.